LABOUR mobility was one of the main issues highlighted in the Pacific Islands Investment Forum Workshop this week.

Cook Islands National Superannuation Fund chief executive officer Damien Beddoes revealed this during an interview yesterday.

“This week we are in Fiji, and we are here to hold the CEO forum, alongside the CEOs we have our board members, our board members are conducting a board governance certification and workshop on investment,” he said.

“And that is to ensure investments when they come through our fund are looked at correctly, they are gaged at certain risks and returns.

“The CEOs have been working through a number of regional issues.

“So, one of the issues we looked at on Tuesday was labour mobility, we looked at the opportunities where members are taking part in the seasonal worker programs overseas, how do we protect their superannuation contributions and how do we bring it back and ensure that it is part of their investments.

“They can have their money invested and benefits them in the long run.

“We also looked at risk management.”

Mr Beddoes said they were also working with the Australian Superannuation Fund.

“To have them here and sign a memorandum of understanding, and that MOU over the next three years they will work with our funds to improve the risk management of our operations and our boards.

“We have also looked at few investment opportunities, we’ll be covering a number of different investments from affordable housing, energy, telecommunications across the region and there is a lot of investments going on.

“So, we look at those opportunities together,” Mr Beddoes said.

Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated April 10, 2025