The Solomon Islands delegation had successfully chaired the Forum Officials Committee (FOC) meeting held in Suva last week.
Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Mrs Joy Kere was appointed Chairwoman of the two days session from Thursday 8th to Friday 9th August.
FOC is the governing body of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and is tasked in setting up priority programs for the Secretariat.
“It is an honour to be given the opportunity, as this meeting is of the most senior official level, which the PIF secretariat will hold prior to deliberation on issues by leaders at the 44th PIF Leaders summit in Majuro in the Republic of Marshall Islands from 3rd to 6th September 2013.
The session saw the gathering of top officials of the PIF membership including observers Tokelau, major CROP agencies, and development partners like the United Nations (UN).
The issues raised during the FOC sessions - commonly referred to as a Pre- Forum session, covers agendas of Regional Security and RAMSI, activities of the Biketawa Declaration, Updates on Cooperate Reforms, Partnership Mechanisms during Post – Forum Dialogues, Climate Change, PIF Financial Institutions, NCD & Health issues and the Pacific Plan Review.
Outcomes of the meeting are pertinent for the preparation of the Pacific Leaders’ summit, as the FOC agendas will be brought before Pacific Leaders when they convene in the Republic of Marshall Islands. The last time Solomon Islands chaired the FOC was in 1999.
Mrs Kere thanked all participants for their valid contributions, as the levels of competency in discussions were exceptional and it is expected that issues raised be captured appropriately in the outcome report, in preparation for submission to leaders.
Solomon Islands delegation to the meeting included Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Fiji H.E Patteson Oti and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination.
Source: Press Release, Government Communications Unit