The Government of Palau will host the 45th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) on the theme of 'The Ocean: Life and Future'. The four-day event consists of a Smaller Island States (SIS) meeting on 29 July, a one-day PIF plenary on 30 July, a leaders' retreat on 31 July, and a post-Forum dialogue partners plenary on 1 August. The Forum, which involves over 300 government representatives, development partners and media, including representatives of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP), is expected to provide input to the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to be held in Samoa in September 2014. The Forum will focus on the Pacific Plan as the Framework for Pacific regionalism, and will also address issues relating to development effectiveness, regional security and partnerships.  

dates: 29 July – 1 August 2014  
venue: Ngarachamayong Cultural Center and Palau Community College Hall  
location: Koror {greater region}, Palau  
contact: Conference liaison officer  
phone: +680 488 5346  
e-mail: mereseinit@forumsec.org  
www: http://www.forumsec.org/pages.cfm/newsroom/press-statements/2014-1/palau-to-host-more-than-300-delegates-for-45th-pacific-islands-forum.html