Global conflicts and climate change are putting unprecedented pressure on Pacific borders, forcing a rapid modernisation of regional immigration systems to counter complex criminal networks.
Speaking at the 30th Pacific Immigration Development Community (PIDC) conference in Suva, Immigration Minister Viliame Naupoto issued a sharp call to action for regional border agencies to embrace innovation and tighter cooperation.
Mr Naupoto warned that economic and geopolitical turmoil thousands of kilometres away was directly impacting the Pacific, driving up visa applications, humanitarian demands and strain on labour programs.
He stressed that immigration had evolved from a secondary administrative duty into a core pillar of national stability and growth.
“Immigration work has never been more important than it is today,” Mr Naupoto said.
“It is no longer a peripheral issue, but a central issue to our country’s development, prosperity and security.
With global migrant numbers reaching a record 304 million mid-last year, he said the Pacific must navigate both the economic benefits of human mobility and its underlying security risks.
While tourism and labour mobility continue to boost local livelihoods, they also expose the region to shifting criminal tactics.
“Today’s threats are more complex,” Mr Naupoto said.
“Human trafficking, migrant smuggling, fraudulent documents, cyber-enabled crime, and the exploitation of vulnerable people. These threats demand that we must work together.”
To stay ahead of organised crime, the minister urged border agencies to quickly adopt modern tools such as digital identity markers, biometrics, automation and artificial intelligence.
However, he said technological upgrades must be matched by legal reforms and regional unity.
Following a recent meeting of Pacific police commissioners, Mr Naupoto noted that immigration must remain tightly integrated into the broader regional security architecture.
Closing the historic 30th anniversary meeting of the PIDC, the minister called on delegates to resolve regional challenges through the traditional Pacific framework of talanoa, a practice rooted in deep, respectful listening.
“The spirit of talanoa is founded on active listening.
“Listening not merely to respond but to understand through the conversations that arise from the stories we tell and the experiences we share.”
