20 February 2026
Suva, Fiji – The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today signed a Partnership Agreement to deepen collaboration across key regional priorities aligned to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and its Implementation Plan.
The Partnership Agreement establishes a strategic framework for cooperation aligned to shared regional commitments on economic resilience, climate and disaster preparedness, social inclusion, and sustainable growth across the Blue Pacific region.
The signing was done today in Suva by PIF Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa and ADB President, Masato Kanda.
“The ADB’s relationship with our Blue Pacific region is long-standing, and well established. The Partnership Agreement between the ADB and the Pacific Islands Forum formalises our cooperation and firm commitment to continue to work together todeliver Pacific-led solutions that build resilience and connectivity, expand opportunity, and mobilise climate and development finance in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent,” said Secretary General Waqa.
Through this partnership, PIF and ADB will advance cooperation on trade and economic competitiveness; public finance management and fiscal resilience; regional trade policy and investment harmonization; private sector and MSME development; economic diversification in agriculture, fisheries, tourism and the blue economy; correspondent banking relationships and regional financial systems; financial literacy and inclusion; social protection; community resilience; climate finance; and disaster risk financing.
“The remote and geographically dispersed nations of the Pacific stand to benefit immensely from regional cooperation and integration,” said Mr. Kanda. “The strength of the Pacific lies in its unity. By standing together, we can achieve common objectives—from protecting shared ocean resources to building economic resilience—far more effectively than any country could alone. This agreement is our foundation to think bigger and move faster.”
The agreement underscores the shared commitment by both institutions to supporting a peaceful, secure, inclusive and prosperous region, ensuring that all Pacific peoples can lead free, healthy and productive lives.
[ENDS]
