BY BEN BILUA

Thirteen members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) are preparing to sign the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) Treaty, a landmark move that will pave the way for the establishment of the region’s first international financial institution.

Speaking ahead of the signing, PRF General Manager Finau Soqo said the facility is designed to attract and manage international donations to support climate and disaster resilience programmes across the Pacific.

She explained that the institution will also play a vital role in international payments and trade facilitation for member states.

Soqo said the decision to establish the PRF as a treaty-based international financial organisation is to ensure that development partners and multilateral agencies have a clear legal framework to channel support into climate change initiatives.

“The reason behind setting up the PRF under a treaty is to provide easier and legal access for our partners who are willing to support climate programs in the Pacific,” she said.

Sogo said the PRF has secured USD 159 million in pledges, reflecting growing recognition of the region’s climate finance needs in the past 18 months.

She said contributions have so far come from countries including Saudi Arabia, Germany, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Nauru and the United States.

“What we’re seeing is that, because it’s a new concept, a new idea to invest in grants, our investors are dipping their toes in the water – they’re testing, so they’re coming in with single digit contributions,” Soqo said.

She added that the long-term target remains at USD 500 million, which would ensure the fund’s sustainability before grant disbursements begin.

Despite the cautious start, Soqo remains optimistic.

“I’m hopeful that more signatories will join the treaty on Wednesday,” she said, underscoring the importance of regional solidarity in securing climate resilience financing.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The review on Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Review of Regional Architecture (RRA) is ongoing.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said that PIF leaders will be discussing the Review of Regional Architecture (RRA) at the Leaders’ Retreat in Noro, in the Western Province.

The RRA involves the structure of institutions, processes, and partnerships focused on achieving the Pacific Islands Forum’s priorities, in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

The Post-Forum Dialogue (PFD) is a mechanism for selected countries outside the Pacific Islands region to engage in discussions with Pacific Leaders after the main Forum meeting.

“This review of the regional architecture is important in terms of the work of the organisations, CROP agencies included, including the review of the post-forum dialogue mechanism. That’s part of the review of the regional architecture,” PM Manele told local Media Thursday this week.

“I believe this review of the regional architecture will further put us in a good position as a region to address the many challenges facing us, but also to capitalise on the opportunities that are before the region,” said PM Manele.

Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Special Duties, Dr Jimmie Rodgers, said that there are two parts to the reviews.

“Three of my colleagues, Melanesia, we are representing, Polynesia represented by Samoa, and Micronesia by Macedonia. We were reviewing four things. One of them is political leadership and unity,”

“The second is membership of the Forum. The third one is the rationalisation of the regional organisations. And the fourth one is how do you pull the regions together to work more together in areas that we can,” said Dr Rodgers.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]

BY BEN BILUA

Pacific leaders are preparing to endorse the Pacific Regional Labor Mobility Principles – a new framework that aims to protect the rights and wellbeing of seasonal workers across the region.

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s Team Leader of Trade, Natalia Patternot, told journalists on Saturday, September 6, 2025 that the initiative marks a critical step forward in safeguarding Pacific islanders engaged in overseas labour programs.

“Now, as we all know, labour mobility—our Pacific people—they are not commodities. So there lies the critical development of these principles.

“It’s to ensure that labour mobility continues to contribute to meaningful and sustainable economic development, social protection, as well as regional cooperation,” she said.

Patternot explained that the principles are designed as a collective approach, agreed upon by leaders, to improve conditions and experiences for Pacific workers.

She highlighted how labour mobility in the Pacific has evolved over the years—from unskilled seasonal work to opportunities in semi-skilled and certified sectors such as meat processing and aged care.

Patternot also highlighted that employment terms have also shifted from a few months to medium-term contracts lasting up to four years.

She expressed that some countries in the Pacific are now shifting from being the sending countries to being the receiving countries.

“The conversation on labour mobility has evolved quite significantly over the past decade. It’s an important opportunity, but with opportunity also comes challenges.

“Those challenges include risks of discrimination, exploitation, forced labour, and unfair recruitment practices,” she said.

Patternot said the principles are grounded in Pacific values and provide a foundation for stronger worker protections.

The final decision, however, now rests with Forum leaders.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]

BY BEN BILUA

Changes in the United States’ foreign policy have placed renewed pressure on the long-standing Tuna Treaty between the US and Pacific Island countries.

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s Acting Director of Governance and Engagement, Salome Taufa, revealed this during her presentation at the Pre-Forum Media Training yesterday.

Taufa said the US Tuna Treaty remains a critical source of revenue for many Pacific nations, and disruptions to the agreement could have long-term consequences for small island states.

She said the Pacific region has been directly and indirectly affected when the US changed its policy.

Taufa said the issue had been raised during the Fisheries Ministers’ meeting, where members agreed to escalate the matter to the highest level for further deliberation.

She also highlighted efforts earlier this year to repair and strengthen relations with Washington.

“Early this year, there was a mission led by the Forum Chair, supported by the Secretary General, to the US. They had good meetings there. It was trying to reestablish and just trying to strengthen the relationship with the US. Of course, the U.S. Treaty was one that was on the agenda in trying to improve the relationship,” Taufa said.

She stressed that the Tuna Treaty is likely to feature on the agenda at the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting next week.

The South Pacific Tuna Treaty, which was signed in 1987 and entered into force in June 1988, allows U.S.-flagged purse seine vessels to fish within the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of Pacific Island parties in return for access fees and U.S. government assistance.

The treaty is seen as an effort to balance U.S. commercial fishing interests with Pacific nations’ sovereignty over their marine resources.

Sixteen Pacific Island nations are parties to the treaty, alongside the United States. These include Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

Over the years, the treaty has undergone several reviews. A major change came in 2016, shifting the framework to provide U.S. vessels with a set number of fishing days while allowing the U.S. to purchase additional access directly from Pacific states.

In March 2024, the U.S. and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) signed a new 10-year financial package following the expiry of the previous arrangement in June 2023. The agreement includes an annual $60 million contribution from the U.S. government, supplemented by industry fees, along with an additional $10 million in 2023 for economic development and climate change-related projects. The deal is set to run until 2033.

Despite this renewal, concerns remain over how shifts in U.S. policy may affect the stability and future of the treaty.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) has projected that the Minerals and Resources Bill 2025 will have significant impact on the macroeconomic of the country.

Speaking before the Bills & Legislative Committee (BLC) on the Minerals and Resources Bill 2025 this week, Advisor Policy at CBSI Michael Fifiolo said the bill is important in terms of potentials it has on export proceeds.

Fifiolo said the bill will also boost balance of payment position of the country, trade position even the strength of local exchange rate.

“We need a lot of export proceeds back to the country, build-up of external reserves and fiscal revenues.

“The cap that export proceeds may not be repatriated back because of some factors have been understated by the industry, the country stands to lose because of deficiencies in our processes or inadequate capacity,” he said.

He stated that CBSI also acknowledges the need to look at its own exchange control processes by collaborating with responsible and appropriate government stakeholders.

“This is to ensure potential benefits which will be derived from mining industry are fully realized,” Fifiolo said.

On the same note, he said his team has looked through the bill and did not seem to see any mentioned of a Sovereign Well Fund except a mention of a Mineral Resources Special Fund.

“Given the fact that mineral is a non-renewable resource, its presence and opportunities for us to look outside of the box and come up with a facility that could generate inter-generational benefits is crucial.

“This is to ensure that income that flows from this resource can benefit our future generations.

“I’m not sure whether it can be accommodated in the bill or mentioned somewhere in the bill,” Fifiolo noted.

He said CBSI is not only looking at contributions from the mineral resources, but also from other resources the country has.

Fifiolo said nothing is too late and he hopes the idea to create facility that will benefit future generations will be looked into.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Minerals and Resources Bill 2025 is projected to establish a basis for sustainable development of the country’s resources.

Speaking before the Bills & Legislative Committee (BLC) this week, Deputy Secretary for Economics at the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Mr Selwyn Takana said the bill has the potential to determine which resources can be managed and to ensure how resources are used without compromising the need of future generation.

“I believe that the mining sector is heading towards a much-needed sustainable path with the mineral resources bill.

“We want to see a sector moving forward from an outdated ad hoc system to a modern transparent and a competitive framework that sets to maximise national revenue, job creation, ensures environmental and social sustainability and most importantly supports the resource owners,” he said.

Takana also stated that the economic difficulty registered by logging and the slow recovery of service sector after the pandemic reminds us of the necessity to diversify our economy.

He added that this should be an economy that does not only take place in Honiara but creates jobs and opportunities all across the country.

“Also, an economy that represents resource owners, values the environment and is committed to a development process that does not leave anyone behind,” said Takana.

He mentioned that the new bill will allow us to shift the paradigm towards a mining sector that benefits many.

Moreover, Takana stressed that country needs to learn from its past and from the experiences of its neighbours to create a modern framework that sensifies investment job creation and growth.

At the same time, he said the country must also not give up its role as stewards of the land it inherited for future generations.

“Thanks to this bill, we will have stronger safeguard against mismanagement, stricter fiscal management of mining resources and more severe punishment against rule breakers.

“The public sector will have better tools to monitor mining activities to ensure transparency to reap their benefits.

“Also, investors will receive a stable framework, allowing them to plan ahead and contribute to reinvigorate our country’s private sector,” he said.

Takana said his team at the ministry has examined the new bill and have come up with list of suggestions, considerations and recommendations for BLC and parliament to take it into consideration.

“And with these modifications, I believe the bill will be more complete from the fiscal point of view, strengthening our ability to identify and avoid irregularities.

“Ultimately, our goal is to transform the resources that sit below our feet into healthcare, education and infrastructure improvement for all Solomon Islanders,” he said.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]