Pacific aviation ministers gather to address the sector’s crucial role in regional development and security.
Forum Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa highlighted the essential role aviation plays in the Pacific’s future at the 3rd Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting (RAMM3) on Thursday.
Waqa emphasized that aviation is not just a means of transportation but a “lifeline for our island economies.”
In his address, Waqa spoke of the growing geostrategic competition in the Pacific, alongside the escalating threat of climate change. “You meet at an important time in our region’s history,” he told the ministers, acknowledging the challenges Pacific nations face.
Aviation, according to Waqa, is critical for trade, tourism, and essential services. “It fuels the backbone of many of our island economies through tourism,” he said, urging ministers to integrate sectors for better regional cooperation.
Waqa highlighted the importance of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, advocating for greater collaboration across all sectors—trade, health, aviation, and finance. He called for an innovative, interconnected approach to meet the region’s development aspirations.
Addressing the smaller island states, Waqa stressed the need for more affordable and accessible aviation to enhance regional connectivity.
