Written by MFOR Media on 01 July 2025.
Written by MFOR Media on 30 June 2025.
The MFOR team comprised of Secretary Riibeta Abeta and Deputy Secretary Teue Baikarawa met with members of the High-level Persons Group (HLPG), Sir Dr Jimme Rodgers and Peseta Noumea Simi to discuss views and perspectives regarding the work of the Review of the Regional Architecture. Several areas were exchanged including existing regional arrangements on the fisheries sector, governance structures for better regional integration, accountability and service delivery to the member countries, and many more. These feedbacks from Kiribati and all other Pacific Island Countries, will be compiled and reported back to the Leaders for their further decision, during their upcoming 54th Pacific Islands Forum to be held in Honiara, September 2025. The MFOR team conveyed appreciation to the members of the HLPG for the opportunity to share views and contribute to this important piece of reform work to the regional architecture.
Quality aggregates in scaled quantity is the on-going challenge for most atoll countries in the Pacific. The team from the World Bank conducted their scoping mission with a view to garner solutions surrounding designs, technology, environment and social safeguards and financing. This team met the MFOR team to share some of the findings which will be shared back to a Pacific meeting and then the World Bank for potential future funding and programming. Secretary Riibeta Abeta, reiterated the need to build local capacities to confidently create land space from the existing resources (lagoon, boulders from outer island, Banaba, etc) and capabilities such as Teatinimarawa Company and potential collaborations with specialized overseas companies and financing institutions. This ambition is well received by the World Bank and will work towards supporting this vision. The MFOR acknowledged the World Bank team for the on-going assistance provided to MFOR and Kiribat, particularly this pipe-line project that is very important for Kiribati.
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