New Five-Year PACER Plus Support Agreed by Pacific Ministers
HONIARA, Solomon Islands – Pacific trade ministers met in Honiara, Solomon Islands yesterday and agreed on a renewed push to strengthen trade, investment, and labour mobility across the region under the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus or PACER Plus. Ministers and ministerial representatives from Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu came together for the 2025 PACER Plus Ministerial Meeting, chaired by Hon. Peter Shanel Agovaka, Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade. Ministers and ministerial representatives from the 10 PACER Plus parties came together for the 2025 PACER Plus Ministerial Meeting in Honiara on Thursday 27 November. Opening the meeting, Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele highlighted the progress made since PACER Plus entered into force in 2020. PACER Plus is grounded in a rules-based system. The Agreement embodies these multilateral principles that respects sovereignty while promoting shared benefits of trade and economic integration. It also addresses the unique and diverse economic vulnerabilities of Pacific small island developing states and offers a structured path for our people to integrate and adapt to the global trading system. It remains an important framework to grow regional peace, progress and prosperity in the region. Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele Ministers reviewed the first five years of the Development and Economic Cooperation (DEC) Work Programme and acknowledged how the work programme had supported policy reforms and institutional capacity building, while also responding to specific national needs, especially for small island economies facing ongoing economic and climate pressures. Looking ahead, the ministers endorsed the strategic priorities for the next phase of the DEC Work Programme (2025-2030). The new priorities will focus on legislation and policy reform, public sector capacity building, private sector development, and automation and data systems. The next phase aims to create a more predictable trading environment, help businesses become more competitive, and ensure Pacific countries have the tools they need to meet their PACER Plus commitments. The ministers also acknowledged the central role played by the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) in driving the significant progress achieved under the DEC Work Programme 2020-2025. They understood the importance of the PPIU as a standalone, member-driven regional entity, one that supports Parties to build economic resilience, deepen cooperation, and advance sustainable development across the Pacific. Ministers also reaffirmed the Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting as the region’s main forum for advancing labour mobility issues. Australia and New Zealand announced major new support for the next five-year DEC Work Programme – AUD 23.2 million from Australia and NZD 10 million from New Zealand. A key highlight from yesterday’s meeting was the joint announcement by Australia and New Zealand of renewed funding for the next five-year cycle of the DEC Work Programme – AUD 23.2 million from Australia and NZD 10 million from New Zealand. Ministers welcomed this commitment and proceeded to sign the Phase II Implementing Arrangement for Development and Economic Cooperation (2025-2030). The meeting also agreed to increase their engagement with other Forum Island Countries that have expressed interest in joining PACER Plus. Ministers endorsed the development of a structured advocacy strategy under the next phase of the DEC Work Programme to support future accessions, with a commitment from Australia and New Zealand to provide additional assistance as membership expands. Finally, ministers expressed their deep appreciation to the government and people of Solomon Islands for hosting the meeting and for their warm hospitality. Tonga will chair the next PACER Plus Joint Committee and Ministerial Meetings in 2026. The full PACER Plus Ministerial Communique can be accessed here. -ENDS- More articles like this one
Pacific Ministers to Endorse the Next Five Years of PACER Plus Development and Economic Cooperation
HONIARA, Solomon Islands – Government ministers and senior officials from around the Pacific will gather in Honiara, Solomon Islands, from 25-27 November for the Ninth PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting and 2025 PACER Plus Ministerial Meeting. Representatives from the PACER Plus Parties – Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu – will attend the three-day meeting. Ambassador Collin Beck (left) with Mr. Roy Lagolago at the Eighth PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The meetings will conclude on 27 November with the PACER Plus Ministerial Meeting, which will be officially opened by the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Hon. Jeremiah Manele. This year’s gathering comes at an important moment for the region. Ministers and officials will consider a report on the first phase of the Development and Economic Cooperation (DEC) Work Programme, which has been jointly funded by Australia and New Zealand since 2020 to help Pacific Island countries implement the PACER Plus (the Agreement). Over the past five years, the DEC Work Programme has supported Parties with policy reforms, legislative updates, and institution-building. But it has also increasingly responded to very practical needs such as providing equipment, systems, and tools that help Pacific countries meet their trade commitments and unlock opportunities for businesses. While the programme has achieved significant progress, implementation has not been without its challenges. Countries have had to navigate the pandemic’s lasting impacts, staffing shortages, trade tensions and changing international systems. These lessons have reinforced the need for more targeted support, stronger coordination, and investments that deliver clear, tangible benefits to Pacific economies. Ministers will also consider the next phase of development assistance, including the signing of the next Implementing Arrangement for Development and Economic Cooperation under PACER Plus for another five years. They previously signalled support for this renewal during the 2024 Ministerial Meeting in Brisbane, Australia. Ambassador Collin Beck, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Solomon Islands and the Chair of the PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting said Solomon Islands is proud to host the meetings at a time when regional cooperation and regional integration is critical to unlock our shared prosperity. PACER Plus is not just a trade agreement but a commitment by Pacific nations to work together for an integrated Pacific. As hosts, Solomon Islands is honoured to welcome our Pacific brothers and sisters to Honiara. These meetings will help shape the next chapter of cooperation, ensuring that our region continues to grow, remain connected, and benefit from a fair and predictable trading environment. Ambassador Collin Beck The past five years have also seen major advances in trade facilitation across the region. These include customs modernisation through rollout of ASYCUDA systems; sanitary and phytosanitary improvements including ePhyto for faster, paperless certification; simplified rules of origin and improved border procedures; duty-free access to Australia and New Zealand for Pacific exports; and strengthened labour mobility cooperation, including pilot intra-Pacific initiatives and reintegration support. Mr. Roy Lagolago, Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU), said these achievements show the value of predictable, well-coordinated regional support. “Over the last five years, we’ve seen real progress like faster customs clearances, better systems for exporters, more streamlined rules, and stronger labour mobility arrangements. Countries are not only meeting their commitments under PACER Plus, but they are also seeing practical benefits on the ground. As we move toward the next phase of the DEC Work Programme, the focus will remain on solutions that make trade easier, support jobs, and strengthen resilience across our island economies,” said Mr. Lagolago. The PPIU, based in Apia, Samoa, manages the DEC Work Programme and supports countries in implementing the agreement. -ENDS- More articles like this one