Excellencies,
Partners of SIDS,
Distinguished Colleagues,
I thank the Government of Tonga for organizing and hosting this important and timely event.
I also thank the representatives of the Pacific SIDS, development partners, donor community, and stakeholders for joining this meeting.
Dear colleagues,
The Pacific SIDS possess rich cultures and have distinctive traditions that are tied to their unique environments. Biodiversity holds profound spiritual and aesthetic significance in this region, on which the communities rely for food, clean water, erosion prevention and protection against extreme weather. But it is precisely this unique geological and socioeconomic environment that increases the vulnerability of Pacific SIDS to stark economic and environmental challenges.
As with other SIDS, exposure to climate change-related natural disasters is an acute challenge in the Pacific region, as is the impact of declining ocean health. This region has a heavy reliance on the seas and marine resources for key sectors like fisheries, aquaculture and tourism, which form the cornerstones of the region¡¯s economies. Small landmass and population size, remoteness from global markets, high public debt and unemployment pose further challenges.
These issues have been a focus of today¡¯s discussions and will continue to inform deliberations in the coming days.
Excellencies, colleagues,
Based on my experience from the past two donor roundtable events, I found that an intimate setting like this provides us with an opportunity for frank conversations.
The regional report prepared for this preparatory meeting has found that there has been greater regression in aid in the Pacific SIDS compared to other regions. I hope that our discussions today can help us to better understand this phenomenon, identify any needed solutions, and shape future expectations.
Ultimately, my hopes for our outcomes today are two-fold. First, I hope that our discussions serve to advance solutions that help Pacific SIDS to address their urgent challenges. But I also hope that we can leave today with concrete ideas of how we will work together over the next 10 years to maximize development impact through effective development cooperation, within the Pacific region and beyond.
As we discuss today, let us keep in mind the key priorities that Pacific SIDS have identified including concrete options for
? overcoming their multidimensional vulnerabilities,
? addressing public debt,
? supporting climate action,
? promoting disaster risk reduction,
? safeguarding marine ecosystems and the biodiversity of the region,
? tackling other issues of mutual interest, such as building statistical and institutional capacities for data collection
I look forward to a well-focused and fruitful discussion.
Thank you.