Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the future of the Melanesian Spearhead Group looks brighter.

He has just returned from Honiara after attending the MSG Leaders’ summit there.

He was at the Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, on the Coral Coast, attending a Fiji Rugby Union development workshop as FRU president.

He said while many had talked much about the outcomes of the Honiara summit, he was happy with the outcomes of the discussions.

“This year’s MSG summit had been a very challenging one but collectively we have continued to put the interests of Melanesia and her people first,” he said.

“We had frank and fair discussions and one of the main breakthroughs was the submission of Indonesia as an associate member of the MSG given that quite a large number of our Melanesian population lives in Indonesia. We respect their sovereignty and the people of West Papua are now represented. We can continue to work with Indonesia on issues pertaining to West Papua.”

Mr Bainimarama said discussions on trade and other commitments had also made inroads under the MSG Trade Agreement.

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