Cabinet has endorsed the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) in 2013 as the successor arrangement to the “Engaging with the Pacific” meetings which have been held over the past three years.
Cabinet based its decision on a submission by the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Filipe Bole.
The Acting Minister said that the call for a Pacific Island Development Forum (PIDF) was endorsed by the Leaders at the 2012 “Engaging with the Pacific” Meeting on 23rd-24th August 2012 in Nadi, Fiji.
He said that Leaders saw PIDF as the opportunity for all national players in the Pacific Small Islands Development States (PSIDS) – Governments, Private Sectors and Civil Society to unite in discussing and identifying options that will ensure sustainable development outcomes by establishing green PSIDS economies.
The Acting Minister said successful global trends point towards strengthening partnerships between the Government/Community/Private Sector in pursuing national development.
He said that the PIDF as successor arrangement in 2013 to the past three EWTP in 2010 – 2012, demonstrates and confirms Fiji’s spirit of genuine interest and partnership in the overall Pacific community.
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