Pacific Ministers to Endorse the Next Five Years of PACER Plus Development and Economic Cooperation

Government ministers and senior officials from around the Pacific will gather in Honiara, Solomon Islands, from 25-27 November for the Ninth PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting and 2025 PACER Plus Ministerial Meeting.

Representatives from the PACER Plus Parties – Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu – will attend the three-day meeting.

The meetings will conclude on 27 November with the PACER Plus Ministerial Meeting, which will be officially opened by the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Hon. Jeremiah Manele.

This year’s gathering comes at an important moment for the region. Ministers and officials will consider a report on the first phase of the Development and Economic Cooperation (DEC) Work Programme, which has been jointly funded by Australia and New Zealand since 2020 to help Pacific Island countries implement the PACER Plus (the Agreement).

Over the past five years, the DEC Work Programme has supported Parties with policy reforms, legislative updates, and institution-building. But it has also increasingly responded to very practical needs such as providing equipment, systems, and tools that help Pacific countries meet their trade commitments and unlock opportunities for businesses.

While the programme has achieved significant progress, implementation has not been without its challenges. Countries have had to navigate the pandemic’s lasting impacts, staffing shortages, trade tensions and changing international systems. These lessons have reinforced the need for more targeted support, stronger coordination, and investments that deliver clear, tangible benefits to Pacific economies.

Ministers will also consider the next phase of development assistance, including the signing of the next Implementing Arrangement for Development and Economic Cooperation under PACER Plus for another five years. They previously signalled support for this renewal during the 2024 Ministerial Meeting in Brisbane, Australia.

Ambassador Collin Beck, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Solomon Islands and the Chair of the PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting said Solomon Islands is proud to host the meetings at a time when regional cooperation and regional integration is critical to unlock our shared prosperity.

“PACER Plus is not just a trade agreement but a commitment by Pacific nations to work together for an integrated Pacific. As hosts, Solomon Islands is honoured to welcome our Pacific brothers and sisters to Honiara. These meetings will help shape the next chapter of cooperation, ensuring that our region continues to grow, remain connected, and benefit from a fair and predictable trading environment,” said Ambassador Beck.

The past five years have also seen major advances in trade facilitation across the region. These include customs modernisation through rollout of ASYCUDA systems; sanitary and phytosanitary improvements including ePhyto for faster, paperless certification; simplified rules of origin and improved border procedures; duty-free access to Australia and New Zealand for Pacific exports; and strengthened labour mobility cooperation, including pilot intra-Pacific initiatives and reintegration support.

Mr. Roy Lagolago, Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU), said these achievements show the value of predictable, well-coordinated regional support.

“Over the last five years, we’ve seen real progress like faster customs clearances, better systems for exporters, more streamlined rules, and stronger labour mobility arrangements. Countries are not only meeting their commitments under PACER Plus, but they are also seeing practical benefits on the ground. As we move toward the next phase of the DEC Work Programme, the focus will remain on solutions that make trade easier, support jobs, and strengthen resilience across our island economies,” said Mr. Lagolago.

The PPIU, based in Apia, Samoa, manages the DEC Work Programme and supports countries in implementing the agreement.

-ENDS//

-Pacer Plus Press Release