Economic Ministers from member countries in the Pacific Islands Forum have gathered in Tonga for the 17th Forum Economic Ministers Meeting.
The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade says discussion at the three-day meeting will focus on the theme of Leveraging Opportunities for Sustainable Development.
Mr Slade says the recovering global economy provides impetus to Forum Island Countries' exports of goods and services.
He says that considering the proximity os Asia, the time is right for the Pacific to take advantage of the 'Asian Century'.
