Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, speaking as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, has urged global partners to support Pacific-led solutions to strengthen investment and security ties, as a major regional summit concluded in Honolulu, Hawaii.
In his address at the close of the two-day Pacific Agenda: Investment, Security and Shared Prosperity Summit at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Manele said investment and security are inseparable pillars that will determine whether Pacific nations achieve sustainable prosperity or remain vulnerable to external shocks.
He stressed that Pacific countries must be at the centre of shaping partnerships and directing investment, arguing that lasting stability depends on empowering the region to lead its own development trajectory.
Prime Minister Manele reaffirmed that regional priorities must be progressed through a deep understanding of the Pacific context, stressing that solutions must be shaped and implemented with Pacific Island countries at the forefront.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the region’s key frameworks are already in place to guide collective action, including the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, the Pacific Roadmap on Economic Development, and the Ocean of Peace Declaration.
He noted that Forum mechanisms such as the Forum Economic Ministers Dialogue and associated officials’ processes are critical in complementing national development priorities.
As Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Prime Minister Manele also emphasised the importance of translating dialogue from the Summit into meaningful and sustainable outcomes that reinforce partnerships with the United States. In this regard, he acknowledged the role of the Pacific Islands Development Program in supporting regional coordination efforts and looked forward to continued engagement through upcoming Pacific Island Countries Leaders’ processes.
Prime Minister Manele further called for support towards the establishment of a Pacific Trade and Invest Office in the United States to strengthen connectivity between Pacific economies and global trade and investment opportunities.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the leadership of United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in convening the Summit together with the United States Indo-Pacific Command and the East-West Center.
He also thanked fellow Pacific leaders, government officials, private sector representatives and all participants for their contributions and engagement throughout the Summit.
[ENDS]
You must be logged in to post a comment.