Backing economic recovery in the Pacific

Australia’s commitment to working with our region on combatting the economic and social impacts of COVID-19 was reaffirmed this week in the virtual Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Economic and Trade Ministers’ meetings.

Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific Zed Seselja is continuing to work closely with his Pacific ministerial counterparts on regional cooperation towards the path out of the pandemic, to ensure the success of a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery.

Minister Seselja said Australia has taken several important measures to help Pacific countries respond to the broader consequences of the pandemic.

“Our $304.7 million Pacific COVID-19 economic response package is providing targeted assistance to help our neighbours address the fiscal, economic and social impacts of the pandemic. This package has supported essential services, and helped to protect the most vulnerable,” Minister Seselja said.

“We have also delivered more than 700,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to our partners in the Pacific and Timor-Leste. This is the right thing to do, and will help safeguard the health of Pacific communities on our shared pathway to recovery.

“Regional collaboration on a business-led recovery, by supporting increased sustainable trade and investment across the region, is key to the region’s economic recovery. We will continue to support these efforts, because when our region thrives, Australia thrives too.”

More information on these meetings can be found on the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat website.