Australia and New Zealand have jointly announced a USD $170 million (AUD/NZD equivalent) investment over the next five years to boost trade, labour mobility, and economic integration across the Pacific region.
The announcement was made during the 2025 PACER Plus Ministerial Meeting in Honiara, underscoring both countries’ continued commitment to supporting the long-term economic resilience of Pacific Island nations.
Speaking at the meeting, Australia’s Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Nita Green, said the new funding recognises the Pacific’s growing importance in an increasingly complex global trade environment.
Australia’s Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Nita Green signs the joint agreement with New Zealand to support Pacific Island members of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus.
“In a time of rapid change in the global trade environment, our region can be a source of reliability and prosperity,” she said.
She added that PACER Plus remains the “primary vehicle driving regional economic integration.”
New Zealand’s Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Scott Simpson, echoed this commitment, noting that the renewed support reflects New Zealand’s focus on sustainable, shared growth.
“In signing the PACER Plus Implementing Arrangement, we are demonstrating our ongoing commitment to trade growth, prosperity, and Pacific regional economic integration through trade,” Minister Simpson said.
New Zealand’s Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Scott Simpson, signs the joint agreement with Australia to support Pacific Island members of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus.
PACER Plus — a regional trade and development agreement in force since 2020 — aims to simplify trade, attract investment, and build stronger, more competitive Pacific economies. The newly announced USD $170 million commitment represents an expansion from the agreement’s first five years, responding directly to Pacific governments’ calls for sustained investment in high-demand labour mobility programs such as Australia’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme and New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.
The funding will support the agreement’s Development and Economic Cooperation Work Program, which assists Pacific members in modernising trade systems, enhancing customs and border management, strengthening e-commerce frameworks, and improving labour mobility pathways. It will also fund the PACER Plus Implementation Unit, which coordinates technical assistance across the region.
Both Australia and New Zealand currently grant 100% tariff-free access to all PACER Plus members — a key advantage for Pacific exporters seeking to reach two of the world’s most open consumer markets.
PACER Plus has ten members: Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
Ronald Flier Toito’ona is a distinguished Solomon Islands Investigative journalist. He is part of In-depth Solomons, an investigative newsroom based in Honiara dedicated to transparency and accountability.
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