PRIME Minister Dr Derek Sikua has described his recent trip to Palau and Brussels as a success.
In Palau, Dr Sikua attended the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) where leaders agreed to join efforts to increase the economic value and to derive greater benefits from their common tuna resources.
Members to the PNA include leaders from Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.
The 8-member PNA has been dubbed 'OPEC for tuna' because it aims to control access to tuna in its waters and so increase economic benefits for Pacific Islanders. PNA waters supply around 25 percent of the world's supply of tuna.
Dr Sikua said the purpose of the meeting is to exchange views on how to maximize benefits of our tuna resources and to set the political direction for the new PNA Secretariat based in Marshall Islands.
In Brussels, Dr Sikua led a high level delegation including the Minister of National Planning and Aid Coordination Steve Abana and Minister of Finance Snyder Rini for talks with leaders of the European Union.
Issues discussed during the two-party political dialogue includes EU’s assistance to the upcoming elections, constitutional reform, regional security and stability, cooperation in trade and fisheries, the global financial crisis and climate change.
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