The Pacific Immigration Development Community (PIDC) Board met in Apia, Samoa, this week from 3–4 March 2025 to discuss border security and regional cooperation. The meeting took place at the Sheraton Beach Resort.
The PIDC, which includes 21 member countries such as Australia and New Zealand, meets three times a year—once virtually and twice in person. Samoa, as the host of the PIDC Secretariat, is a permanent Board member alongside Australia and New Zealand. Representatives from Vanuatu, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Cook Islands, and American Samoa also attended.
Discussions focused on managing border security, setting regional security priorities, and preparing for the 2025 Regular Annual Meeting (RAM) in Nuku’alofa, Tonga.
PIDC Head of Secretariat, Akuila Ratu, said:
“PIDC remains committed to working alongside immigration agencies across the Pacific, regional security agencies and other key partners to strengthen border security and facilitate safe and efficient movement across the Pacific. By enhancing measures to combat transnational crime, people smuggling, and trafficking, we are helping to safeguard our communities and ensure a secure and prosperous region for all.”
A two-day workshop on 5–6 March will follow the meeting to review the PIDC Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and develop a new plan to enhance border management in the Pacific.
