Zarak Khan

Son, This is why you should appreciate everything you have‼️

[Joint Statement by Forum Trade Ministers Meeting] We, the Pacific Islands Forum Trade Ministers, at our meeting on 18 July 2025, recall the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, and emphasise the value of regional solidarity in the face of global trade uncertainty, while highlighting the enduring importance of trade to the livelihoods and prosperity of the peoples of the Pacific region. We reaffirm the importance of genuine and enduring partnerships with all global partners and reiterate our openness to constructive dialogue aimed at shaping a sustainable and inclusive future for the Pacific region. Read the full joint ministerial joint statement here: forumsec.org/publications/j…

Forum Senior Trade Officials convened at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat around the theme of “Fostering Trade to build a Resilient and Sustainable Pasifiki” ahead of the Forum Trade Ministers Meeting (FTMM) on 18 July 2025. Ms. Distaquaine Tu’ihalamaka, Tonga’s CEO for Trade and Economic Development (MTED), chaired discussions on strategic initiatives to strengthen the architecture of Pacific trade, and secure socio-economic benefits for Pacific peoples. Officials also deliberated on Pacific Regional Labour Mobility Principles (PRLMP) that reflect the Pacific’s shared vision of "putting people first”. The Forum Trade Officials meeting was held over two days commencing on 16 July and concluding today. The Minsiterial meetings will shape the regional priorities heading into the 54th Forum Leaders Meeting to be held in September in Solomon Islands. #OneBluePacific #PacificTrade #RegionalCooperation

Representatives from government, National Private Sector Organisations, businesses and industry associations, development partners, civil society organisations (CSOs), youth and women’s groups, CROP agencies, international organisations, and donor agencies joined the validation workshop for the Pacific Regional Private Sector Strategy on 4 July 2025. The workshop aimed to present the draft Strategy for stakeholder feedback and validation, ensuring alignment with national and regional priorities. It facilitated open discussions to refine the draft, identify gaps, and provided a platform for propose collective actions for inclusion in the Strategy’s implementation plan. The Secretariat received positive feedback on the draft Strategy, with the workshop reaffirming the strategic pillars and priority areas, ahead of endorsement at the upcoming Forum Economic Ministers Meeting.

Rodney Kirarock, Economic Policy Officer at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, presented on Correspondent Banking Relationships – Impacts and Mitigation at the 2025 Pacific Update at the University of the South Pacific this week. The initiative, developed by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in partnership with the World Bank and Pacific Islands Forum members, supports the Resource and Economic Development priorities of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Correspondent banking is critical to the Pacific’s financial connectivity, economic resilience, and inclusive development. #PRED #onebluepacific

Deputy Secretary General, Desna Solofa, delivered opening remarks at the Pacific Regional Quality Policy Inception Workshop this morning in Nadi, Fiji. "Quality Infrastructure is one of the tools our region can leverage to deliver the economic ambitions of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific: to establish a sustainable and resilient model of development for our region" - DSG Solofa. The development of the Pacific Regional Quality Policy will support regional efforts to improve product and service standards, foster regional and international trade, and ensure the protection and safety of the people, flora, and fauna of the Pacific. Read full remarks here: bit.ly/4j7ZqvD #AidforTrade #AidforTradeStrategy

#HappeningNow The Pacific Regional Quality Policy (PRQP) Inception Workshop was opened today by Chief Guest PS Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises Mr. Shaheen Ali @axeshane. Remarks were also made by @ForumSEC DSG Desna Solofa. Representatives from @EUPasifika, @UNIDO, @dfat, and @PlusPacer spoke to the positive developments in #PQI in the region and the progress that the #PRQP will contribute to. The PRQP will support regional efforts to: ⚖️improve product and service standards; ⚖️foster regional and international trade, and; ⚖️ensure the protection and safety of the people, flora, and fauna of the Pacific. Like other regional strategies developed under the Pacific Aid-for-Trade Initiative, the PRQP will set out priority regional actions in the area of quality infrastructure. This will allow Members to undertake activities more efficiently, by acting together as opposed to acting in isolation. The workshop is led by the Pacific Islands Forum in partnership with UNIDO, and funded by the EU-funded #SPIRITproject, the EU-ACP PQI, and the PACERPlus Implementation Unit. It is an activity under the PQI Initiative, implemented by PIFS under the umbrella of the Pacific-Aid-for-Trade-Strategy, to enhance regional capacity in standards, metrology, accreditation, and conformity assessment. The workshop will run from 21st to 23rd May, and is being held in Nadi, Fiji. #onebluepacific #BluePacific2050 #PIQP2025 #PacificQualityInfrastructure

Ko rabwa and vinaka vakalevu to His Excellency Taneti Maumau, President of Kiribati, Vice President Toatu, Foreign Secretary Uering, Secretary to Cabinet Biribo, staff of the Kiribati Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration & the Kiribati Government for hosting Secretary General Waqa and our team from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and for your generous hospitality this week. My first visit to your nation and I depart being captivated by its beauty and overwhelmed by the generosity of the Kiribati people. We look forward to supporting the implementation of the Kiribati National Development Strategy (KV20) and leveraging alignment with the regional 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

Mauri from Kiribati! The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat team led by Secretary General, Baron Divavesi Waqa, conducted high-level in-country consultations today with representatives from different Ministries of the Kiribati Government. SG Waqa welcomed participants to the session, emphasising the importance of Kiribati to the Forum and conveyed appreciation for allowing the Secretariat to be "on the ground, listening, understanding the realities and challenges faced, and finding solutions together". The PIF team presented on the work the Secretariat is doing in different sectors, and welcomed more collaboration for when working towards regional goals. #OneBluePacific

#resourcesandeconomicdevelopment In a show of regionalism, the Fiji government today gifted Standard Mass Sets to the governments of Tuvalu and Niue. Described as a cornerstone of equitable trade, consumer protection, and sustainable development in the Pacific - The sets, formerly used in Fiji trade verification processes, will now be used by Tuvalu and Niue for a wide range of verification tasks. Under the Pacific Quality Infrastructure Initiative, countries with specific technical needs were identified for support. As part of this process, Tuvalu and Niue were prioritised for the provision of standard mass sets to bolster their legal metrology operations. Standard Mass sets are the industry standard tool used to calibrate weighing scales, verify the accuracy of trade measurements and ensure fairness in commercial transactions, especially in markets or industries where goods are sold by weight (like food, metals, or spices) checking the accuracy of balances and weighing measuring devices. Read DSG Nayasi's Remarks: bit.ly/3YWUq5E

Conclusion of the Special Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (#FEMM) in beautiful Nuku'alofa, #Tonga. It was a pleasure working closely with Hon. Aisake Eke, Prime Minister and #PIF Chair, the Tongan Government and our hard-working team at PIFS led by Secretary General Baron Waqa & Deputy SG Desna Solofa. Today we delivered for Member States three ground-breaking regional initiatives related to the Pacific Roadmap for #Economic Development, #Climate Finance Access and Mobilisation Strategy and the historic endorsement of the Pacific Resilience Facility (#PRF) Treaty for it's legal establishment with US$150 million in pledges received so far. Vinaka vakalevu and malo 'aupito to the dedicated staff of PIFS and the generous hospitality extended by our Tongan brothers and sisters

Vinaka @Simon_Kofe for the insightful conversation. Always an admirer of the amazing work you do for the people of #Tuvalu & our #BluePacific. God bless and wishing you well for the Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting #RAMM

This week, our Pacific Political Climate Champions, gather in Fiji for a Post COP-29 Debrief. The debrief provides an opportunity to express appreciation to the Champions as well as the national and PSIDS advisors, for the hard-work and effort they've put in to make the Political Climate Champions initiative work. Its also an opportunity to learn from the experiences of the Champions and the national and PSIDS advisors and identify opportunities going forward. The Champions who are present for the debrief are: - Hon. Biman Prasad - Fiji Deputy Prime Minister, (Thematic Area: Oceans- Climate Nexus) - Hon. Ralph Regenvanu – Vanuatu Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Meteorology, Geohazards, Environment and Disaster Management (Thematic Area: Loss & Damage) - Hon. Maina Talia - Tuvalu Minister of Local Government, Climate Change and Environment (Thematic Area: Just Transition) - Hon. Bremity Lakjohn – Republic of the Marshall Islands Minister in Assistance to the President/Environment (Thematic Area: Adaptation) - Hon. Mona Ainuu – Niue Minister of Natural Resources (Thematic Area: Gender and Social Inclusion) Joined Online: - Hon. Cedric Schuster - Samoa Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (Thematic Area: Mitigation) The Political Climate Champions was initiated in 2021 as a means to help elevate Pacific priorities at the political level during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties. It was an effort to ensure that the Pacific as a whole could strategically engage and influence strong outcomes on Pacific priorities through the UNFCCC COP and where relevant through other global platforms. The Political Climate Champions is a One CROP supported mechanism with PIFS as lead coordinator, and supported by the governments of Australia and New Zealand. As we near the end of our current Champions term, we thank them for their commitment to our Pacific. Welcome Remarks by SG Waqa: forumsec.org/publications/r…

#resourceandeconomicdevelopment The 2nd Pacific E-commerce Development Partners Sub-committee met today, bringing together over 25 stakeholders to review progress, set 2025 priorities, and address key challenges in the Pacific's e-commerce ecosystem. Pacific Islands Forum Director-Programmes & Initiatives, Zarak Khan, highlighted that the meeting remains a vital platform for dialogue and coordination to drive e-commerce growth in the region. #ecommerce #OneBluePacific #pacifictrade

Ref's and @WorldRugby need to have a hard look in the mirror. They seem to be against any aspect of the game that would make it exciting and a spectacle. Blair Murray try for Wales this morning was amazing athleticism #SCOvWAL

Reminded me of @Lj_era8 amazing TD against the Cincinnati Bengals a few years ago. Has the same instinctive spinning move to beat the tackler but Loganimasi's deft kick at the end and footy skills were sublime. Beautiful try and a great result for the Drua #TosoDrua

Today was a sad day and a reminder to the world the importance of diplomacy. When diplomacy fails only chaos, fear and tyranny reigns. It's important to keep the channels of communication & dialogue open. It's also wise to remember true power is one that is wielded for the betterment of humanity not its destruction. Thoughts and prayers are with innocent people - men, women and children - suffering and dying from all conflicts and wars around the world. #prayforpeace 🙏

#HappeningNow The Forum Trade Officials Meeting (FTOM) continues today after commencing yesterday afternoon, at #PIFS. Director Programmes & Initiatives @ZarakFJ delivered remarks on behalf of Acting Secretary-General, Desna Solofa, “as we engage in today’s discussions, let us keep in mind the interconnectedness of the issues before us. From strengthening trade mechanisms to protecting our cultural heritage, from improving labour mobility to ensuring environmental sustainability, each of these topics plays a vital role in advancing the collective interests of the Pacific region. I look forward to the deliberations ahead of us as we work together towards crafting solutions that will ensure a resilient, prosperous, and sustainable Pasifiki for future generations.” @ForumSEC's #SPIRITProject, funded by @EUPasifika proudly supports many of the initiatives on today’s agenda, including Trade Arrangements, and the Regional KAVA Development Strategy and Implementation Plan.

#HappeningNow Aid-for-Trade Briefing opened at #PIFS with remarks by Director Programmes & Initiatives @ZarakFJ and Ambassador, Permanent Delegation of the Pacific Islands Forum to the UN, WTO and Other International Organisations in Geneva, Mrs Mere Falemaka. The briefing for members and development partners is to highlight updates and implementation progress on the key Aid-for-Trade (AfT) initiatives including; Quality infrastructure (PQI) ; E-commerce; Trade Facilitation and Value-Chains Initiative. The briefing also allows for members to gain a deeper understanding of the progress, and the work remaining, before the Forum Trade Officials Meeting 2025 which is on the 26th and 27th February. The @ForumSEC's #SPIRITProject, funded by @EUPasifika proudly supports AfT through it's workplan. #OneBluePacific #Regionalism #EconomicGrowth @BigOceanMarkets

We thank our Members, donors and partners for their tremendous support. #AidforTrade is an essential building block for enabling #Pacific countries & our private sector to fully & equitably participate in #globaltrade & we are working very hard to make progress on quality #infrastructure, #Ecommerce, #trade facilitation & #services