A new six-year partnership deal has been signed between Australia and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS). Australia will pay $21.6 million (AUD) for the first three years of the partnership.

The Australia-PIFS Partnership (2014-2019) deal was signed by Australian Senator Brett Mason and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Tuiloma Neroni Slade at the Forum Secretariat headquarters in Suva on Monday 28 April.

Tuiloma Slade stated “I welcome this long term agreement with Australia, which remains an invaluable partner for the Pacific Islands Forum and the whole region,”

“This partnership reflects the strategic positioning of the Forum Secretariat, in taking the regional agenda forward.”

Senator Brett Mason stated “Supporting the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in providing Pacific Island countries with the political and policy means to improve their development prospects is essential to a thriving Pacific Neighbourhood,”

“We are committed, both as a key Forum member and also a development partner, to engaging with the Forum Secretariat more effectively and consistently, with our shared goal being to help member countries realise their development aspirations through deeper and more effective Pacific regionalism”