Eight Pacific leaders have been confirmed as the countdown to the inaugural Small Island
Developing States (SIDS) Solutions Forum on 30 – 31 August 2021 continues.
Spearheading the strong Pacific representation is the Prime Minister of Fiji, Josaia Voreqe
Bainimarama, who will co-host the global virtual meeting.
Bainimarama will be joined by Samoa’s new Prime Minister, and the first female to be
elected to such a position in the Pacific, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa. The meeting will be one of
the first global gatherings she will address in her new capacity.
Other Pacific leaders whose participation have been confirmed include the Prime Minister
of Cook Islands, Mark Brown, Prime Minister of Tonga, Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, Prime Minister of
Vanuatu, Robert Loughman, President of Palau, Surangel Whips Jr, President of Kiribati,
Taneti Maamu and the President of the Marshall Islands, David Kabua.
The leaders will be joined by Heads of International and regional organisations from the
Pacific who will ensure the voice of the region is loud and clear during the two-day Forum.
Bainimarama’s role as co-host is fitting given his passion to strengthen nutrition security in
his country and the Pacific in the face of climate change.
The Fijian Prime Minister has served as President of COP23 and co-Chair of the first UN
Conference on Oceans and has remained a fierce advocate for global recognition of the
challenges faced by SIDS especially when it comes to climate change, rising oceans and
nutrition.
The Forum convened virtually by FAO and Fiji, in partnership with the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU), creates a space for the high-level officials and participants
to discuss, share, promote and encourage home-grown digital innovations and imported
solutions in the agriculture, food and nutrition sectors to respond to the challenges posed by
COVID-19.
The ultimate goal is to accelerate the achievement of the agriculture; food and nutrition
related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the S.A.M.O.A Pathway priorities in SIDS.