“Aviation is a lifeline for our island economies – enabling trade, tourism and essential services to move in the region.”
Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS) Secretary General Barron Waqa said this in his address at the 3rd Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting in Suva yesterday.
He said geostrategic competition and interest in the Pacific continued to grow as partners tussled for influence in the region.
“We continue to contend with an intensifying climate emergency that threatens the very livelihood of our Pacific people. And we are faced with a changing international development landscape that requires us to be more innovative in how we work together and, with our partners,” Mr Waqa said.
He said in that strategic context and in our region, the aviation industry was not just about transportation.
He added aviation was core to connectivity between the region and the world, noting that it fueled the backbone of most Pacifc island economies through tourism.
“For far too long now, we have considered sectors in our region through siloed perspectives – each sector focusing on its own development and its own unique needs.
“However, the changing regional environment demands us to be more synergised and connected in our regional discussions and talanoa across all our regional ministerial meetings.
“Our development aspirations must be driven by all sectors, together – whether it be trade, finance, aviation, health and so forth.”
NOTE: This article was first published in the print edition of the Fiji Times dated MARCH 21, 2025.
