Norwegian deputy foreign minister meets with PIDF

The visiting Norwegian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tone Skogen, and Unni Kløvstad, Ambassador of Norway on Monday, met with the Pacific Island Development Forum (PIDF) Secretary General François Martel at the PIDF headquarters in Suva, the first such high level contact between the PIDF and Norway. During the meeting Secretary General Martel explained the current work of the PIDF in catalysing, mobilising and mainstreaming action in support of sustainable development through green/blue economy in Pacific Island countries.

“The PIDF is an action-oriented platform to identify innovative solutions that will ensure sustainable development and works closely with international institutions to engage state and non-state actors to develop high-impact collaborations on sustainable development and poverty reduction in the Pacific Islands.

“PIDF provides a framework for bringing together the expertise of the private sector, normative leadership of the public sector, and successful delivery mechanisms of civil society.”

The Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister was very pleased to note the similarities in the priorities of the PIDF and Norway in the area of the blue economy, oceans and climate change and expressed the hope to work collaboratively with the PIDF in these areas.

She noted especially the declaration by the PIDF of 2017 as the Pacific Year of the Oceans. She was also briefed on the upcoming PIDF Pacific Blue Economy Conference and Biennial Conference in Solomon Islands in August this year and agreed to look into how Norway may be able to support the Conference.

The Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister was very appreciative of the partnership the PIDF has with the private sector and of the PIDFs project on a green business centre in collaboration with UNDP. Norway has diplomatic relations with a number of Pacific Island countries including PIDF member countries of Fiji, Tuvalu and Tonga.