The European Union (EU) and Pacific nations have announced a major investment package of nearly €300 million aimed at promoting sustainable economic development and enhancing climate resilience in the region, in line with the EU Global Gateway strategy. The package, comprising regional and national investments as well as budget transfers, was unveiled at the EU-Pacific Business Forum in Fiji by European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela. Commissioner Síkela highlighted that the funding focuses on Pacific priorities such as climate resilience, sustainable oceans, renewable energy, digital sovereignty, and food security, aiming to deliver tangible benefits to local communities while creating mutually beneficial opportunities for Europe.
A significant portion of the investment, €80.2 million, will target ocean, climate, and environmental initiatives to strengthen sustainability, resilience, and climate-supportive businesses, particularly in Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Wallis-et-Futuna. The energy sector will receive €53.3 million to promote renewable and sustainable energy projects, including a sustainable energy programme in the Solomon Islands, energy efficiency improvements in Tonga, and the construction of two solar power plants in Papua New Guinea.
Efforts to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene in Papua New Guinea and Samoa are supported with €19 million to ensure access to clean water and essential services. Good governance and resilience-building initiatives across Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste will be strengthened with €50.9 million to enhance infrastructure and private sector development. In agriculture, €24 million will support value chain improvements in Vanuatu and the coconut sector in Tuvalu.
Infrastructure projects worth €39.7 million will be implemented in the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Kiribati to boost local livelihoods, create employment, and improve connectivity, including rehabilitation of Fiu Bridge and Rabaul Port and construction of a port in Kiribati. Trade and private sector development will receive €26.8 million to enhance green and blue economy initiatives, including the woman-led Matanataki Fund, which focuses on climate resilience and adaptation in Pacific Small Island States.
As part of the ongoing partnership, the EU plans to establish a bilateral EU-Pacific entity focused on commerce and trade, building on the momentum of the Business Forum, which will convene every two years to strengthen long-term economic ties.
Global Gateway, the overarching EU strategy behind this investment, aims to reduce global investment disparities, promote smart, clean, and secure connections in digital, energy, and transport sectors, and strengthen health, education, and research systems. By mobilizing up to €300 billion in public and private investments from 2021 to 2027, Global Gateway seeks to close the global investment gap while fostering sustainable and mutually beneficial development partnerships.
