The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Baron Waqa, emphasized a transformative approach to measuring economic performance during his recent address at the 2025 Pacific Update at the University of the South Pacific. Waqa suggested that traditional metrics like GDP do not adequately reflect the realities of Pacific communities, particularly regarding their resilience to disasters and youth opportunities.
Highlighting the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, Waqa called for broadening the definition of progress to include metrics related to peace, security, environmental health, and cultural identity, rather than solely focusing on fiscal measures. He applauded the recent endorsement of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) by the UN General Assembly, viewing it as a pivotal tool to address the Pacific’s unique challenges, such as climate change and geographic isolation.
Waqa urged Forum leaders to shape partnerships and allocate financing based on these new metrics, reinforcing the need for a cohesive regional system that enhances functionality over fragmentation. He stressed that unity among Pacific nations is essential for navigating contemporary global challenges, reinforcing that collective strength is critical.
This perspective aligns with previous discussions around the Pacific Roadmap for Economic Development (PRED) and the need for initiatives like the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), aimed at strengthening the region’s capacity to handle climate impacts and natural disasters, while fostering economic stability.
The call for a unified approach to development resonates with ongoing efforts to enhance regional cooperation and highlights the importance of adapting economic strategies to meet the specific needs and vulnerabilities of Pacific nations. This optimism about the future underscores that by embracing regionalism and collaboration, the Pacific Islands can work towards a more sustainable and prosperous future.
Emphasizing collective action, Waqa’s comments provide a hopeful outlook that, despite ongoing challenges, Pacific nations possess the potential and resources to create a resilient and integrated region.
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