The Minister for Foreign Affairs HRH Crown Prince Tupouto‘a ‘Ulukalala has officially opened the 27th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Immigration Development Community (PIDC) at Fa‘onelua Convention Centre today.
The five‑day conference, running from 16–20 June, brings together immigration leaders from 21 Pacific nations to enhance regional border security and data sharing.
PIDC, formed in 1996, aims to strengthen immigration systems, improve cooperation, and combat people smuggling and organised crime across the Pacific .
This year’s theme, “Understanding the complexity of Migration Today: Protecting our Blue Pacific Continent and People”, emphasises the need for collective efforts to safeguard Pacific identity, security and dignity amid evolving mobility patterns .
The conference will feature board-level discussions, closed sessions on financial and strategic planning, and a director retreat on Friday 20 June.
PIDC collaborates closely with regional bodies such as PICP, OCO, FFA and international agencies including IOM, UNHCR and UNODC to promote high‑quality immigration standards and information exchange.
