2 August 2012: The Pacific Plan Action Committee (PPAC) held a meeting ahead of the 43rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF 43), to monitor progress on elements of the Plan. The 2012 Annual Pacific Plan Progress Report was presented to the Committee.

The Report is based on progress reports from the PIF Secretariat (PIFS) and other members of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) as well as international agencies. It addresses issues relating to education, tourism and trade, among others.

On education, the Report discusses progress made during the past year in implementing the Pacific Education Development Framework (PEDF), and notes the collaboration between the University of the South Pacific (USP) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) to roll out a regional Technical and Vocational Education and Training Framework for the Pacific. Also addressed in the Progress Report is the coordination and development of the Regional Qualifications Framework by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), which focuses on regional qualification benchmarks.

On tourism, the Report discusses efforts by the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) to improve access to the region, including training and marketing to long-haul international destinations such as the UK, Europe and China.

On trade, the Report addresses the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA). It notes that PICTA needs renewed commitment, and reports that Forum Trade Ministers expressed support for New Caledonia’s efforts to accede to the Agreement. PICTA currently covers trade in goods only, but will include services by 2012, upon completion of negotiations. According to the Progress Report, this is expected to significantly expand trade and investment opportunities in Forum island countries.

The PPAC meeting, held in Suva, Fiji, from 31 July-1 August 2012, is part of a series of regional officials’ meetings held in preparation for PIF 43, to be held in the Cook Islands, from 27-31 August 2012. The Forum is a political grouping of 16 independent and self-governing states: Australia, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. [PIFS Press Release, 31 July] [PIFS Press Release, 2 August] [PIFS Press Release, 3 August]