The annual Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM), held in Suva at the start of August, advanced several initiatives, including the finalisation of the Pacific Roadmap for Economic Development and the development of the Pacific Resilience Facility, which will be headquartered in Tonga. However, what stood out more at this year’s meeting was the call for freer movement of people within the region, endorsed by the new Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Baron Waqa.
In his opening address, Waqa emphasised the importance of facilitating greater regional economic cooperation and integration by advocating for the freer movement of people across the Pacific, including to Australia and New Zealand. “We must advocate for freer movement of our people within the islands,” Waqa said, aligning the Forum’s goals with the aspirations of many Pacific nations for greater mobility.
Despite this push, the FEMM communique, which is yet to be released, suggests a gap between advocacy and tangible results. Tonga’s Finance Minister, Tiofilusi Tuieti, highlighted the need for an assessment of the social and economic impacts of labour mobility programs and migration within the Pacific, indicating that more studies might precede any decisive action.
Fiji’s Finance Minister, Biman Prasad, a strong advocate for regional integration, expressed hope that the issue of freer movement would remain on the agenda, advocating for phased implementation starting with more immediate actions such as the relaxation of business visas.
Regional sentiment on the issue is generally supportive, with leaders like Cook Islands’ Assistant Finance Minister Tukaka Ama and Nauru’s Deputy Finance Minister Maverick Eoe backing the concept of free movement. However, concerns remain about the potential challenges, such as the impact on specific destinations and the readiness of Australia and New Zealand to embrace the idea.
As the region’s top leaders prepare for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga later this month, the push for freer movement within the Pacific is gaining momentum. The support of the Forum Secretary General and ongoing dialogue among Pacific nations may help turn this vision into reality, but much work remains to bridge the gap between aspirations and implementation.
