Tonga's Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku co-chaired a high-level leaders meeting with the President of Palau Hon. Surangel S. Whipps Jr, and CEO and President of Bezos Earth Fund Dr. Andrew Steer, in New York on 19 September.

This meeting aimed to strengthen active engagement of new investors and existing partners investing in the Pacific.

“The urgency for change is evident; if the goal is to achieve systems-level impact, the current way of addressing development or climate problems will fail,” Hon. Hu’akavameiliku said.

Coalition of support

Pacific Island leaders discussed that forming a coalition of support for “Unlocking Blue Pacific Prosperity” would not be a solitary endeavour, and become integrated into their Strategy and Regional action Plans. They welcomed support from partners and investors.

The meeting sought to build towards a commitment to support the three high-level goals in their business case. They seek support for a two-phased roadmap to establish a formal process to co-design a concrete action plan, over 12 to 18 months, commencing 2024; and to seek a commitment to work together this year, for example at the COP28 in Dubai, U.A.E.

The Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, Mr. Paula Pouvalu Ma’u, accompanied the Prime Minister at the meeting.