The 9th Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers (PWWM) Forum and the 16th Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) Conference and Expo (PWWC25) officially opened in Honiara on Monday.
The evening is bringing together water and wastewater professionals, policymakers, researchers, young water professionals, and development partners from across the Pacific and beyond.
This year’s event is held under the theme: “Water and Wastewater Services for All: Connecting people, policies, and communities for a shared sustainable future.” It provides a platform to foster collaboration and share innovative solutions aimed at strengthening water and wastewater services across the Pacific region.
The opening ceremony featured traditional ceremonies, including a warm traditional welcome by the Guadalcanal people, the traditional landowners of the area where Honiara is situated. Attending countries also presented gifts to the host nation, Solomon Islands, in a gesture of goodwill and regional solidarity.
The ceremony also included speeches from various dignitaries, emphasizing the critical importance of water security and sustainable management of water and wastewater services.
In parallel with the conference and expo, the Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers will convene for one and a half days to discuss pressing water security issues critical to the well-being of Pacific nations.
The objectives of the 9th PWWM Forum include:
- Elevating the collective voice of Pacific water security as a central pillar of development, resilience, and regional security.
- Advancing sustainable financing and capacity-building initiatives to accelerate water security actions.
Speaking at the opening, Dr. Chris Vehe, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, highlighted the importance of water as the lifeblood of the Pacific.
“In our island nations, water defines our survival, our well-being, and our development,” he said.
“Yet this precious resource is increasingly threatened by climate change through rising seas, prolonged droughts, and stronger storms. By uniting science with lived experience, and policy with community needs, we create solutions that are resilient, inclusive, and future-focused.”
The Solomon Islands Government, in collaboration with the Solomon Islands Water Authority, the PWWA Secretariat, and the Pacific Community (SPC), is working to ensure the success of the event. Last year, the Cook Islands hosted the forum in Rarotonga.
– OPMC
