Pacific economic ministers are meeting in Vanuatu this week to consider how to improve food and energy security for the island countries.
Around 80 delegates are expected at the meeting over Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Pacific Islands Forum's economic advisor Sanjesh Naidu says despite the easing in key costs in recent weeks, the ministers' meeting will still be looking for ways to ease the financial burden on the small countries.
"Relatively speaking, commodity prices, food prices, oil prices are still higher than they were say, 24 months ago. And so these issues still remain pertinent, and they will be discussed in some detail at this meeting."
Both Fiji and New Zealand are represented at the meeting by senior government officials.
