Deep relations with Pacific island countries (PICs)

Japan and Pacific island countries (PICs) share the Pacific Ocean, a global public good, and have historical and long-lasting relations. Sustainable development in the Pacific region will help to further strengthen bilateral relations between Japan and PICs.

PICs have diverse languages and their own cultures and customs. While their development status also differs, they face common issues derived from the common challenges unique to island countries: they are small, isolated, remote, and oceanic. Japan and the PICs have been holding a summit-level meeting called Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) every three years since 1997, where leaders discuss various challenges faced by the region and its countries.

Delivering cooperation based on PALM

Based on the Ninth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM9) held in July 2021, JICA’s cooperation for the region revolves around the following five priority areas:

• 1. COVID-19 response and recovery
• 2. Sustainable oceans based on the rule of law: maritime law enforcement, fishery resources management, and solid waste management
• 3. Climate change and disaster resilience: promoting the deployment of renewables and capacity development for disaster management agencies
• 4. Strengthening the foundation for sustainable and resilient economic development: developing transport, ICT, and other infrastructure; promoting trade and investment; building resilience in public finance; and strengthening governance
• 5. People-to-people exchanges and human resources development: inviting potential future leaders to Japan for study, providing training, dispatching JICA volunteers, and supporting regional exchanges

In fiscal 2022, as the COVID-19 situation was improving, JICA expanded the number of experts sent to the region. For example, it started to dispatch advisors on public investment management to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands as well as a debt management advisor to Tonga. JICA also accepted more training participants, including 36 long-term participants who began to study at Japanese universities under the SDGs Global Leadership Program, which is designed to train personnel who are future potential leaders in their countries.

Palau: An opening ceremony in May 2022 for a new airport terminal constructed under the Renovation, Expansion and Management of Palau International Airport Project, JICA’s first Private-Sector Investment Finance project in the Pacific. The airport is operated utilizing Japanese expertise.

Note: For the total value of JICA programs, see the note on “Programs by Region” on page 37. Totals may not add up due to rounding.