Pacific's Future in Focus at Leaders Forum

The Cook Islands played host to this year's Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Summit - an annual meeting of the leaders of all Pacific Island Countries and other regional governments. This year, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was a featured guest of the Summit. Ocean issues were at front and center of the Summit's discussions with the final communique applauding increased interest in investment in Pacific fisheries and oceans, including in the context of the Global Partnership for Oceans.

GPO partners were active in their support for the new Pacific Oceanscape as well as a proposed Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Investment Package.

Pacific Oceanscape

The Pacific Oceanscape is a political commitment by countries of the Pacific Islands Forum to understand, guard, and conserve the Pacific Ocean for the benefit of all.

Supporting Regional Cooperation in the Pacific Oceanscape (Video)

Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Investment Package

During the Leaders Summit, in response to interest from countries, the World Bank announced plans for a Pacific Islands ocean investment package to be supported by a number of partners from the GPO. The proposed investment package - which is being discussed with eight Pacific Island countries - is designed to target priorities where financing gaps have been identified or where innovation and private sector engagement may be needed.

World Bank Announces Proposed Package of Support for World's Largest Oceans (press release)
World Bank Welcomes Oceans Focus at 43rd Pacific Islands Forum (press release)
Keeping the Wonder in the Pacific (blog)

Pictured: President of Cook Islands, Henry Puna, addressing the gathering at the Leaders Summit.

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