Pacific Island leaders are committed to the 2050 Blue Pacific strategy.

Embedded in the strategy is the strong engagement of the civil society and the private sectors, says Pacific Conference of Churches general secretary Reverend James Bhagwan.

He and other civil society organisations and non-state actors were part of a dialogue event with the Pacific Islands Forum leaders at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.

Rev Bhagwan said the organisations hoped they would continue to be involved and engaged in the implementation of the strategy, and how it was to be implemented at a national and regional level was important.

“Today’s dialogue builds on the two and half years’ worth of work we have been doing as civil society on the 2050 Strategy and really about placing civil society, non-state actors (NSA) in a strong position to continue to contribute in a meaningful way to the implementation of the strategy.”

NSA representative and FMF director Ram Bajekal also said the main emphasis of the dialogue was about involving the private sector in the next steps of the strategy. “We were involved in the consultation, but have  to make sure momentum carries forward. We would like to be part of the implementation plans and policies,” Mr Bajekal

Forum Chair and Fiji’s Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama said the combined dialogue of our Pacific private sector and civil society was timely because forum leaders would launch the 2050 Strategy of the Blue Pacific Continent today.

He said it was also key to the success of the 2050 Strategy because civil society and business community were important roles.

“As key partners from across the region, the private sector and civil society play crucial roles in the development and delivery of regional policy objectives,” Mr Bainimarama said.

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