REMARKS: Secretary General Waqa at Officials Committee Meeting, Budget Session

1. Thank you Madame Chairperson.

2. Excellencies, distinguished delegates and members of the Forum Officials Committee, representatives of CROP Agencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

3. Allow me to extend my gratitude and appreciation to all of you for your commitment and unwavering support of your Secretariat’s work.

4. We approach the end of the year, allow me to provide some brief reflections on these past 12 months. You will agree with me that we have navigated a year marked by significant events, challenges and opportunities, and geopolitical stresses within our Blue Pacific region. Despite these, our collective resilience and strategic initiatives have fortified our posture and strength strategically in our region.

5. The Forum’s work will necessarily continue to be informed and influenced by global developments and the conclusions of international high-level meetings. In the past twelve months, many of you have participated in a range of key important international gatherings. I wish to acknowledge in this regard the hard work and endurance of so many of you who have represented your countries and our region these gatherings. It is important that we continue to contribute to debates and discussions that shape international outcomes and ensure their relevance to Forum member countries and our Pacific communities. To ensure this, we have embarked on a range of reforms that would assure a fit-for-purpose Blue Pacific region and Forum Secretariat.

6. Members and the Secretariat alike have been engaged in a fairly extensive array of work across the Secretariat’s mandate areas this year. We witnessed substantial progress in some of our key priority work programmes culminating with the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga.

7. Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the 2050 Strategy through the endorsement of the 2050 Baseline Report and prioritised regional collective actions and also agreed on the continuation of the work on the Review of the Regional Architecture. Our ongoing efforts to address climate change were further bolstered by the elevation of the Pacific Resilience Facility’s global profile and awareness to garner capital confidence and galvanise funding to meet the PRF’s capitalisation target. Leaders also endorsed the Kingdom of Tonga as the country of domicile for the PRF.

8. However, we must acknowledge ongoing challenges faced by our region, including resource constraints and the impacts of geopolitical competition in our region. On top of that, we continue to contend with the full range of regional security challenges, including transnational organised crime, human security and governance issues. These will require our continued commitment and collective efforts to maintain stability, and peace and security of our region.

9. Looking ahead, and in particular leading up to our discussions on our 2025-2027 Annual Workplan and Budget, our focus remains on strategic alignment and the effective utilisation of our limited resources. Our budget for the upcoming years will prioritise key activities that drive our regional agendas forward, emphasising efficiency and the motivation to deliver more with less.

10. There will be funding challenges that we will need to navigate together. The upcoming expiration of the Suva Agreement will require our collective consideration, and the Secretariat will look to you for your guidance as we develop a clear strategy in the second triennial review of our Sustainable Funding Strategy.

11. We will continue to champion initiatives that promote regional cooperation environmental sustainability, economic resilience, security and safety of our region, and continue to promote institutional efficiency within the Secretariat. By leveraging our collective strengths and fostering partnerships, we can navigate the complexities of our region and achieve our shared goals.

12. I want to record here my appreciation to all CROP organisations for their assistance and support throughout this year. There is a high degree of collegiality and professional sharing and cooperation among your regional organisations. Conscientious efforts are being made to coordinate, rationalise and integrate our activities with a view to improving our respective and joint services to our member countries.

Excellencies and distinguished members,

13. Thank you once again for your unwavering support and commitment to ensure that your Secretariat remains a beacon of hope and progress for our region. We could not have managed without you, and you have been most kind with your support and encouragement.

14. Madam Chairperson, your role is a particularly important responsibility for this session of the Committee. We are here, and be assured of the Secretariat’s ready assistance and support in every step of the way.

I wish you the most fruitful deliberations. Thank you.