Two officers from The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resource attended the 39th INFOFISH Governing Council Meeting held in Malaysia, from 24–27 November 2025. INFOFISH is an intergovernmental organization established in 1981 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to provide fisheries trade promotion, technical advisory services, and market information for fishery products across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Its Governing Council member states include Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, Kiribati, Malaysia, Maldives, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Thailand.

This year’s Governing Council session focused on recruitment of a new INFOFISH Director, Organisations restructure, Auditing and the review of the draft Staff Regulations, as well as the endorsement of the 2026 Annual Budget and Work Programme by Council Members. Kiribati participation is to reaffirm its commitment to supporting the organisation’s goals and collaborative efforts throughout the region.

Kiribati presented its proposals during the meeting, emphasizing training and capacity development in Tuna Trade Promotion and Market Intelligence to form part of the 2026 INFOFISH work program for Kiribati. These priorities reflect the country’s effort to strengthen national capabilities in global tuna markets, and improve long-term sustainability of social-economic benefits. Kiribati also explored additional opportunities for technical cooperation under the INFOFISH collaboration framework, particularly with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of the Philippines on Milkfish deboning and value- addition, and aquaculture development. This initiative are expected to enhance food security, create sustainable livelihood opportunities, and generate direct benefits for our fishing communities and consumers in Kiribati.