Rarotonga, Cook Island, 8 September 2023 - Members from each of the eighteen member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF}, who comprise the Specialist Sub-Committee responsible to the Forum Officials Committee (FOC), gathered earlier this week to present the revised draft of the 2050 Strategy Implementation Plan {205OIP}.
The 2OSOIP, as part of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, articulates regional collective actions, delivery mechanisms, and partnership elements that ensure transformative actions for member countries of the PIF,
This week's 3Oth FOC Specialist Sub-Committee Meeting was co-chaired by Antonina Browne, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) Director of the Pacific and Regional Affairs Division {PRAD}, on behalf of PIF Chair, Cook Islands Prime Minister the Honourable Mark Brown, and Olita Tupou, Deputy Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister from Tonga.
In her opening remarks, co-chair and Director Browne said, "This is an opportunity for us to consider the draft Implementation Plan that has been revised based on feedback received during the consultation period. The draft 2050 Implementation Plan and policy brief documents were circulated for consultation and feedback following the 29th Sub-Committee Meeting held on 18 August.
"I again take this opportunity to thank all members once again for the hard work and commitment you have put into the Multi-Stakeholder Expert Group (MSEG} and Informal Working Group (IWG) processes of the last six months, which led to the development of the draft that we have before us."
During the Meeting, members discussed the presentation and revisions made to the 205OIP based on feedback received to date from members, CROP agencies, Non-State Actors, and Development Partners. Members also sought agreement on next steps in the process to further refine the draft 2OS0IP for the consideration of the Forum Officials Committee, who are scheduled to meet from 12 - 13 September in Fiji.
The Forum Officials Committee Meeting held next week culminates in the annual Forum Foreign Ministers lv\eeting (FFMM), and serves to frame Pacific regionalism by identifying and assessing priority initiatives to advance Pacific regionalism for leaders’ consideration at the annual Pacific Islands Forum Leader's Meeting.
"This week’s Meeting provided not only an opportunity for us to consider the revisions of the draft 2050 Strategy Implementation Plan but also provide an update and next steps to the FOC," said Pacific and Regional Affairs Division Director, Antonina Browne.
"It will inform preparations for the Forum Officials Committee who are the representative body of PIF Forum members, on which regional issues should be considered by Forum Foreign Ministers next week, and Pacific Island Forum Leaders at their Meeting, which will be hosted by the Cook Islands from 6 - 10 November 2023.
PRAD Director Antonina Browne was supported at this week's FOC Specialist Sub-Committee Meeting by Foreign Service Officers from the Pacific and Regional Affairs Division and PIF Secretariat officials.