Delivered by Ayako Yamaguchi-Eliou, Secretary – Ministry of Finance, Banking & Postal Services of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Chair of the 2026 Forum Economic Officials Meeting.
Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands.
22 June 2026
Senior Officials,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Colleagues and Partners,
Iakwe, and Good Morning everyone.
It is my great honour and pleasure as Chair to welcome you all to the 2026 Forum Economic Officials Meeting, here in Majuro.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the High Commissioner of Solomon Islands to Fiji, His Excellency Joseph Ma’ahanua, for his invaluable assistance in chairing the meetings of the Pacific Economic Sub-Committee over the past year and for his leadership in guiding and advancing our discussions. His stewardship and commitment have contributed significantly to the quality of the work and recommendations that are before you today.
As Pacific peoples, we share a deep understanding that our strength lies not only in our individual nations, but in our collective commitment to one another. The matters before us today highlight the value of regional cooperation and collective action as we work towards our shared aspirations for a resilient, inclusive and prosperous Blue Pacific Continent.
Today’s meeting is particularly important as it provides officials with the opportunity to carefully consider and refine the issues that will be presented to our Ministers when they convene over the next two days. As the principal preparatory forum for FEMM, our deliberations will help ensure that our Ministers are equipped with clear analysis, practical recommendations, and a shared understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing our region.
The quality of our discussions today will help shape the direction of the Ministers’ meeting. Through constructive dialogue, informed analysis and the sharing of national experiences, we can identify areas of convergence, clarify policy considerations, and provide Ministers with a strong foundation for decision-making.
I therefore encourage colleagues seated here today to engage actively and openly throughout today’s meeting. The perspectives, expertise and experiences represented around this table are invaluable and our efforts will contribute significantly to the success of the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in the days ahead.
I, thank you all for your commitment and participation, and I look forward to a productive and successful meeting.
With those remarks, I have the honour to declare the 2026 Forum Economic Officials Meeting open.
Komol tata
[ENDS]
