8 Mar 2012

Australia gives Pacific Islands Forum funding assistance

5:26 am on 8 March 2012

Australia has given the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat nearly 7 million US dollars in funding assistance for this year.

The acting secretary general of the Forum, Andie Fong Toy, says the agency will use the money to strengthen regional cooperation initiatives.

She says it will enable the Secretariat to implement the Leaders' decisions on the key pillars of the Pacific Plan, such as promoting the effective coordination of development resources, support for trade and economic growth initiatives, and the promotion of good governance and security.

It will also go towards regional efforts to address priorities such as the Millennium Development Goals.