Tenth Meeting of the PACER Plus Joint Committee
21–22 May 2026 | Fa’onelua Convention Centre, Nuku‘alofa, Tonga The Tenth Meeting of the PACER Plus Joint Committee will take place on 21–22 May 2026 in Nuku‘alofa, Tonga, chaired by Mrs Distaquaine Tu’ihalamaka, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development of Tonga. Tonga will also Chair the PACER Plus Budget Committee meeting that will be held earlier in the week. At their previous meeting in Honiara, Solomon Islands, in November 2025, PACER Plus Ministers signed the Phase II Implementing Arrangement for Development and Economic Cooperation under PACER Plus for the period 2026–2030. This arrangement confirmed the strategic objectives for the next five-year phase and secured a joint funding commitment of AUD 31.4 million from Australia and New Zealand to support development and economic cooperation initiatives. A central focus of the meeting will be consideration of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Adaptation (MELA) Logframe, which provides the framework for measuring and strengthening PACER Plus outcomes and impacts. Members will also review and provide guidance on the Development and Economic Cooperation Work Programme 2026–2030, aimed at supporting capacity building, trade-related assistance, and inclusive economic development across PACER Plus Parties over the next five years. The Work Programme will be funded and managed through the AUD 31.4 million contribution from the Australian and New Zealand governments. Chair of the Joint Committee, Mrs Tu’ihalamaka, said: “This meeting is particularly significant for Tonga as the Depositary of the PACER Plus, and the country where the Agreement was signed prior to ratification. Over the past five years, we have recorded good progress in the implementation of the Work Programme by the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) and have learnt important lessons. As we look ahead, this meeting reaffirms our commitment to upholding the integrity of PACER Plus, and ensuring its effective implementation delivers meaningful benefits for all Parties.” Mr Roy Lagoalgo, Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU), emphasised the importance of the discussions in preparing for the next phase of implementation: “As PACER Plus moves towards the commencement of Phase 2 of Work Programme on 1 July 2026, it is critical that we set the foundations right. Agreement on the MELA Framework and DEC Work Programme ensures that implementation is well‑sequenced, responsive to members’ priorities, and delivers measurable results from the outset of the 2nd phase.” The Joint Committee is the principal decision‑making body under the PACER Plus and plays a central role in ensuring cooperation initiatives and development support deliver tangible and sustainable benefits for the region. More articles like this one