Suva, Fiji – 13 March 2025 – Development Partners supporting the Pacific Regional E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap (the Strategy) met for the second time to assess progress, identify challenges and coordinate efforts to accelerate e-commerce development in the region. The meeting brought together more than 30 stakeholders, including donor organisations, regional and international development agencies, banks, and managers of donor-funded e-commerce initiatives, to review ongoing projects and discuss future e-commerce initiatives.

In his opening remarks, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) Director of Programmes and Initiatives, Zarak Khan, underscored the significance of the meeting as a crucial platform for dialogue and coordination to drive e-commerce growth in the Pacific. He stated, “Our hope is that implementing agencies and donor partners find the insights they need to continue their work, bilaterally or multilaterally, to support e-commerce development in the region”. 

The Development Partners Sub-committee is one of two key e-commerce sub-committees, with the other Private Sector Sub-committee scheduled to meet in April 2025. Both meetings feed into the Pacific E-commerce Committee meeting in May 2025, forming the governance framework for the Strategy’s implementation.

During the meeting, participants reviewed progress on implementation and received an update on the Pacific E-commerce Alliance’s Engagement Plan for 2025. They were also introduced to the Pacific E-commerce Symposium, planned for 2026. The Symposium will be a landmark event featuring committee meetings, panel discussions, expos, networking events, and interactive sessions to foster collaboration, showcase innovations, and address emerging trends in Pacific e-commerce. 

Additionally, development partners received an update on the January 2025 survey results, outlining their visions and plans for the year. The United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) presented key findings from the Pacific Cyberlaws Gap Analysis, while the Universal Postal Union (UPU) introduced its Regional Addressing Project. The United Nations Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries also provided an update on its planned partnership with PIFS to conduct a regional technology assessment.

The meeting was chaired by Roy Lagolago, Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) and Labour Mobility. The meeting was held virtually and organised by PIFS.