Nasfund and Nambawan Super will be co-hosting the Pacific Island Investment Forum on behalf of the PNG Superannuation Industry in Port Moresby from 27-31 March, 2023.
The Pacific Islands Investment Forum (PIIF) is an association of superannuation and provident funds of the Pacific.
It was previously known as the Pacific Provident Fund and Social Security CEO Forum and was established in 2003.
Its objectives are to collaborate, communicate and co-operate on matters pertaining to investment opportunities across island countries, including New Zealand and Australia.
It is governed by a board made of fund CEOs from Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Meetings were held annually, before COVID, and the last meeting was held in Samoa in 2019.
There is a secretariat which is provided by the Cook Islands NSF and supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
In addition, there is a working group comprising representatives from the Samoan, Cook Islands, Tongan funds and International Finance Corporation.
Outgoing chief executive officer for Nasfund, Ian Tarutia said at its September meeting in Auckland held in September 2022, and hosted by New Zealand Super, an MoU was signed among PIIF members agreeing to look at investment opportunities across the Pacific that met each fund’s risk return profile, investment hurdles and decision making processes.
“The Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) representatives were also present and were keen to support initiatives that improved infrastructure assets in the Pacific that ticked the boxes,” he said.
“The funds are considered ideal partners because of the governance framework and investment discipline the funds have in place, as well as capital/funds to invest on hand.”
Prime Minister James Marape and the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru, will be invited to officiate the opening of the three-day conference. Speakers from abroad, business leaders, captains of industry as well potential investment partners are planned for the agenda as well.