THE Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed an agreement to deepen collaboration across key regional priorities.
The agreement establishes a strategic framework for cooperation aligned to shared regional commitments on economic resilience, climate and disaster preparedness, social inclusion, and sustainable growth across the Blue Pacific region.
Forum Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa and ADB President Masato Kanda signed the deal in Suva.
“The ADB’s relationship with our Blue Pacific region is long-standing and well established. The Partnership Agreement between the ADB and the Pacific Islands Forum formalises our cooperation and firm commitment to continue to work together to deliver Pacific-led solutions that build resilience and connectivity, expand opportunity, and mobilise climate and development finance in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent,” Waqa said.
Through this partnership, PIF and ADB will advance cooperation on trade and economic competitiveness, public finance management and fiscal resilience, regional trade policy, and investment harmonization.
Other areas included under the agreement are the private sector and MSME development; economic diversification in agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and the blue economy.
Correspondent banking relationships and regional financial systems; financial literacy and inclusion; social protection; community resilience; climate finance; and disaster risk financing are also covered.
“The remote and geographically dispersed nations of the Pacific stand to benefit immensely from regional cooperation and integration,” Kanda said.
“The strength of the Pacific lies in its unity. By standing together, we can achieve common objectives—from protecting shared ocean resources to building economic resilience—far more effectively than any country could alone. This agreement is our foundation to think bigger and move faster.”
The agreement underscores the shared commitment by both institutions to supporting a peaceful, secure, inclusive, and prosperous region, ensuring that all Pacific peoples can lead free, healthy, and productive lives.