The quest by Small Islands Developing States SIDS to advance their economies, raise their standard of living and to counter their vulnerability to climate change and rising sea level remain to be the focus of the 2014 SIDS Conference that is currently being held in Apia Samoa.

'Sustainable Development Through Genuine and Durable Partnerships' is the theme for this year's conference, which highlighted a desire that through genuine and durable partnerships, small island states would be able to achieve sustainable development, adapting to climate change while providing a decent standard of living for all, with lasting economic growth.

The 2014 conference attracted 3,000 representatives from 52 SIDS and officials of various international organizations, who attended meetings during the conference from 1-4 September and the pre-conference activities from 28-30 August.

The 2014 SIDS Conference was officially opened by the UN Secretary General, Bing Di Moon in Apia, Samoa, on 1 September, followed by a plenary meeting, featuring statements by the President of the conference, the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States and the Secretary-General of the Conference. The plenary meeting also heard statements from other political groups in accordance with the practice of the General Assembly. 

Running in parallel to the Plenary Meeting are Multi-stakeholder partnership dialogues, covering the following issues:

• Stainable Economic Development
• Climate change and disaster Risk Management
• Social Development in SIDS, Health and NCDs, youth and women,
• Sustainable Energy
• Oceans, seas and biodiversity
• Water and Sanitation, food Security and Waste Management
• Youth Forum
• Major Groups and other Stakeholders Forum
• Renewable Energy Forum
• Private Sector Forum.

The real outcome will be the partnerships that emerge; partnerships to action, implement and fund identified projects. It is expected that governments, business and civil society organizations will announce major new commitments and initiatives on a range of issues that will make a measurable impact in advancing the economic, social, and environmental well-being of small islands developing states.

Some 350 partnerships have already been registered for the conference.

The Closing Plenary Meeting will be held on Thursday 4 September in the afternoon. The Partnerships Dialogue will also conclude at the same time which is to be followed by the adoption of the Outcome Document and the Conference Report.

The 2014 Apia SIDS Conference is the third conference of its kind which is held every ten years. The first two SIDS Conference were held in Barbados in 1994 and Mauritius in 2005.

Tonga was represented at the 2014 SIDS Conference by the Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano and Lady Robyn. They lead a delegation which included the Minister of Finance, Dr 'Aisake Eke; the Minister of Health, Lord Tu'i'afitu, Sunia Fili, Va'inga Tone, Mahe Tupouniua, , Paula Ma'u, Vaimoana Taukolo, Pouini  Fa'otusia, 'Olita Tupou, Suka Mangisi, Leveni 'Aho, 'Aku'ola, 'Inoke Vala, Taniela Kula, 'Ofa Fa'anunu, Dr R. 'Ofanoa, 'Ilaisipa 'Alipate, Dr T. Tukunga, Sione Fulivai, Drew Havea and Monalisa Palu.