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The Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis in the Pacific

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): February 3, 2010 - On February 10-12, 2010, 16 Pacific Island Countries will come together in Port Vila, Vanuatu to discuss how to move their economies forward from the 2008 global economic crisis and also to determine how best they can respond to any future economic crises. The Conference is being organized by the United Nations in partnership with the Government of Vanuatu, the Asian Development Bank, the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, and the University of the South Pacific. The FSM is sending a delegation that will be led by Vice President Alik L. Alik and includes Secretary of the FSM Department of Health & Social Affairs, Dr. Vita Skilling, and FSM Ambassador to Fiji, Samson Pretrick, among others.

This high level Pacific conference is being held at the request of the Pacific Island Leaders during the Cairns meeting in August of 2009. The conference will provide information on the economic crisis highlighting mitigation efforts and sustainable recovery mechanisms by bringing together decision-makers and stakeholders from governments, national legislatures, civil society organizations, the private sector, academia, and women, children and youth groups. Expertise will be shared from the UN organizations and other development partners in attendance.

According to the invitation letter sent to President Mori from the Hon. Edward Natapei, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu, the schedule for the event has delegations assessing the impact of the economic crisis in the Pacific on day one. Day two will ask them to try and frame policy choices on the basis of the assessments from day one, and on day three, the delegations will attempt to translate those policy choices into a forward-looking crisis mitigation and sustainable recovery action plan for each country.

The FSM delegation will be expected to make a country presentation on how the economic crisis has affected the economy of the FSM.

The outcomes of this Conference will be presented to the Forum Leaders meeting in August that will also be held in Port Vila this year.