(Suva, Fiji – 23 November 2009) Regional organizations have joined forces with the Government of Vanuatu and the United Nations (UN) in the lead up to the Pacific Conference on the Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis in Port Vila, 10-12 February 2010.
Participation of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the University of the South Pacific (USP) in the conference ensures ownership at the regional level. All organizing partners of the Conference met last week in Port Vila at the Steering Committee meeting chaired by Vanuatu’s Minister of Finance and Economic Management, Hon. Sela Molisa.
Following the Steering Committee meeting the Minister said: “Vanuatu and other Pacific island countries continue to experience effects of the global economic crisis. It is important that the governments leverage their experiences and best practices in crisis mitigation, while at the same time getting access to expert policy advice from global and regional institutions.
“In this regard we are pleased to note that preparations to the Conference are progressing very well thanks to the joint commitment of the Government and the UN, as well as other regional partners. We are hoping that the Conference will help to build long-term resilience of Pacific economies against future crises,” Hon. Molisa said.
Country specific actions are needed in response to the global economic crisis and as government delegates from the 16 Pacific island countries converge in Vanuatu to deliberate on these issues, technical assistance from global and regional partners will be a welcome boost.
UNICEF Pacific Representative, Dr Isiye Ndombi said: “The UN is pleased to partner with the Asian Development Bank and the Pacific regional organizations in the lead up to the Conference that will take place in Vanuatu in less than three months’ time.”
For more information, please contact:
Jean Sese, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs on (678) 27045 or jsese@vanuatu.gov.vu or
Donna Hoerder, Communications Specialist on (679) 3300439 or dhoerder@unicef.org; or
Reama Biumaiono, Communications Associate on (679) 3312500 or reama.biumaiono@undp.org
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