Photo credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore
Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan strengthens ties and announces innovative SPARKS package during Singapore’s inaugural participation in the Pacific Islands Forum.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, embarked on a significant visit to Cook Islands from November 9 to 11, 2023, marking Singapore’s first-ever participation in the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting as a Dialogue Partner.
During the 2050 Pacific Prosperity High-Level Thematic Dialogue on November 10, Minister Balakrishnan emphasized the strategic importance Singapore places on its relations with the PIF. Addressing global challenges, particularly climate change, he highlighted the shared commitment of Singapore and the Pacific Islands as fellow Small Island Developing States. Over the past 30 years, Singapore has actively contributed to the development of the Pacific region, sharing its experiences with more than 5,800 Pacific officials through the Singapore Cooperation Programme.
One of the highlights of the visit was the announcement by Minister Balakrishnan regarding the launch of a three-year customized technical assistance package for the Pacific, named the “Singapore-Pacific Resilience and Knowledge Sharing” (SPARKS) package. This comprehensive package includes courses in climate resilience, cybersecurity, and international law, aiming to support the Pacific’s capacity-building efforts aligned with the PIF’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which serves as the region’s blueprint for the future.
Throughout the visit, Minister Balakrishnan engaged with several Pacific leaders, including PIF Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson, Kiribati President Taneti Maamau, New Caledonia President Louis Mapou, Tonga Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, Palau Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Gustav Aitaro, Solomon Islands Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Jeremiah Manele, and PIF Secretary General Henry Puna. These meetings facilitated discussions on the Pacific’s priorities and explored avenues for bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Singapore and the Pacific nations.
Source – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore
