ISSN : 0377-452X INAUGURAL REGIONAL MEETING OF MINISTERS FOR ENERGY, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) AND TRANSPORT 4–8 April 2011, Noumea, New Caledonia REPORT OF MEETING Secretariat of the Pacific Community 2011 © Copyright Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) 2011 All rights for commercial / for profit reproduction or translation, in any form, reserved. SPC authorises the partial reproduction or translation of this material for scientific, educational or research purposes, provided that SPC and the source document are properly acknowledged. Permission to reproduce the document and/or translate in whole, in any form, whether for commercial / for profit or non-profit purposes, must be requested in writing. Original SPC artwork may not be altered or separately published without permission. Original text: English Secretariat of the Pacific Community Cataloguing-in-publication data Inaugural regional meeting of ministers for energy, information and communication technology (ICT) and transport: Report of meeting (Noumea, New Caledonia, 4–8 April 2011) / Secretariat of the Pacific Community 1. Force and energy — Oceania. 2. Information technology — Oceania. 3. Communication in economic development – Oceania. 4. Transportation — Oceania. I. Title II. Secretariat of the Pacific Community 303.483 0995 AACR2 ISBN: 978-982-00-0509-9 INAUGURAL REGIONAL MEETING OF MINISTERS FOR ENERGY, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) AND TRANSPORT, 2011 (ICT) AND TRANSPORT, TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION INFORMATION ENERGY, REGIONAL MEETING OF MINISTERS FOR INAUGURAL 2 INAUGURAL REGIONAL MEETING OF MINISTERS FOR ENERGY,INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) AND TRANSPORT 4 OPENING PLENARY OF REGIONAL ENERGY, ICT AND TRANSPORT MINISTERS MEETING 5 INAUGURAL REGIONAL MEETING OF MINISTERS FOR ENERGY, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) AND TRANSPORT, 2011 (ICT) AND TRANSPORT, TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION INFORMATION ENERGY, REGIONAL MEETING OF MINISTERS FOR INAUGURAL PACIFIC REGIONAL TRANSPORT MINISTERS MEETING 6 PACIFIC REGIONAL ICT MINISTERS MEETING 11 PACIFIC REGIONAL ENERGY MINISTERS MEETING 12 SMALL ISLAND STATES REGIONAL ENERGY, ICT AND TRANSPORT MINISTERS MEETING 16 COMBINED PLENARY OF REGIONAL ENERGY, ICT AND TRANSPORT MINISTERS MEETING 18 CLOSING PLENARY OF REGIONAL ENERGY, ICT AND TRANSPORT MINISTERS MEETING 20 ANNEXES 29 Annex 1 – Provisional agenda 30 Annex 2 – Participants’ list 36 Annex 3 – Official address of Dr. Jimmie Rodgers 52 Annex 4 – Opening statement of Mr. Feleti Teo 58 Annex 5 – Opening speech of Mr. John Hogan 61 Annex 6 – Pacific Regional ICT Officials Meeting Outcome 63 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE 3 Participants of the Inaugural Regional Meeting of Ministers For Energy, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Transport April 2011, Noumea, New Caledonia INAUGURAL REGIONAL MEETING OF MINISTERS FOR ENERGY, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) AND TRANSPORT (4–8 April 2011, Noumea, New Caledonia) The inaugural joint meeting of Pacific Ministers for Energy, ICT and Transport was held at the Jacques Iékawé Conference Centre at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community's (SPC) headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia, from 4 to 8 April 2011. It was attended by Ministers and/or Secretaries, Directors and senior officials from the ministries/departments of Energy, ICT and Transport of American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, France, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Pitcairn Islands, Tokelau and the United States of America did not send representatives to the meeting. The meeting was also attended by key regional and international agencies and development partners. The inaugural joint meeting of ministers responsible for three key economic sectors in Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) was seen as the first of the benefits of three regional reform processes that called for the pooling of resources, rationalisation of regional mechanisms and streamlining of regionally delivered services to PICTs – the Pacific Plan for increasing regional collaboration and integration, the reform of the regional institutional framework, and SPC’s own organisational reforms and restructure. The meeting was organised by SPC's Economic Development Division, a technical division established in January 2010 to deliver assistance to the energy, ICT and transport sectors in the Pacific. INAUGURAL REGIONAL MEETING OF MINISTERS FOR ENERGY, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) AND TRANSPORT, 2011 (ICT) AND TRANSPORT, TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION INFORMATION ENERGY, REGIONAL MEETING OF MINISTERS FOR INAUGURAL Prior to the ministerial meetings, officials from the energy, ICT and transport departments in PICTs met on Monday 4 April 2011 to discuss issues that were to be tabled at the sector ministerial meetings. The meeting agenda is attached as Annex 1. A list of participants is attached as Annex 2. 4 OPENING PLENARY OF REGIONAL ENERGY, ICT AND TRANSPORT MINISTERS MEETING (Tuesday 5 April 2011, Noumea, New Caledonia) INAUGURAL REGIONAL MEETING OF MINISTERS FOR ENERGY, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) AND TRANSPORT, 2011 (ICT) AND TRANSPORT, TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION INFORMATION ENERGY, REGIONAL MEETING OF MINISTERS FOR INAUGURAL OFFICIAL ADDRESS The official address was delivered by Dr. Jimmie Rodgers, Director- General, SPC. Dr. Rodgers spoke on the importance of the inaugural joint ministerial meeting and that the meeting came at an important time; with the region increasingly seeking approaches that argument national effort through strategic partnerships and pooling of resources to deliver the best possible development outcomes. The address is attached as Annex 3. Dr. Jimmie Rodgers, Director-General, SPC OPENING STATEMENT A statement was delivered by Mr. Feleti Teo, Deputy Secretary General, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS). Mr. Teo spoke on the uniqueness of the meeting, as it presented a rare opportunity for ministers and officials with responsibilities in the three sectors to jointly discuss not only issues pertaining to each of the sectors, but also to consider cross-cutting development issues that impact right across the three sectors. The statement is attached as Annex 4. Mr. Feleti Teo, Deputy Secretary General, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) SETTING THE SCENE Mr. John Hogan, Director, Economic Development Division, SPC, set the scene for the meeting. He spoke on the linkages between energy, ICT and transport sectors. Mr. Hogan highlighted that the three sectors had numerous cross- cutting impacts and that SPC will endeavour to harmonise work across the sectors and gain maximum synergy. The speech is attached as Annex 5. Mr. John Hogan, Director, Economic Development Division (EDD), SPC 5 PACIFIC REGIONAL TRANSPORT MINISTERS MEETING (Tuesday 5 April 2011, Noumea, New Caledonia) Improved regional transport services enhance the social and economic well- being of Pacific people by ensuring that everyone has access to safe, secure and competitive services that are regular, reliable and affordable. Pacific Transport Ministers met at SPC headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia on 5 April 2011 to discuss transport in the region, with a focus on maritime and aviation issues. The meeting included the Vice President of the Government of New Caledonia; the Prime Minister of Cook Islands; Ministers from Marshall Islands, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu; and a Member of Parliament from New Zealand. Representatives of member countries and territories also included officials from American Samoa, Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, France, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Tonga and Wallis and Futuna. Also in attendance were development partners and organisations, namely the Asian Development Bank, Association of South Pacific Airlines, Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific, European Investment Bank, International Civil Aviation Organisation, Pacific Aviation Safety Office, Pacific International Maritime Law Association, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Pacific Islands Maritime Association, Pacific Maritime Transport Alliance, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, United Nations ESCAP, United National Development Programme and the World Bank. INAUGURAL REGIONAL MEETING OF MINISTERS FOR ENERGY, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) AND TRANSPORT, 2011 (ICT) AND TRANSPORT, TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION INFORMATION ENERGY, REGIONAL MEETING OF MINISTERS FOR INAUGURAL 6 PACIFIC TRANSPORT MINISTERS: 1. STATUS OF PROGRESS AGAINST DIRECTORS OF CIVIL AVIATION MEETING OUTCOMES OF 2010 i. noted the status of progress, national impacts and the gaps identified 2011 (ICT) AND TRANSPORT, TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION INFORMATION ENERGY, REGIONAL MEETING OF MINISTERS FOR INAUGURAL and encouraged member states to fulfil their national responsibilities; ii. agreed that SPC and PASO explore sustainable financing mechanisms that support member states’ compliance with international requirements; and iii. noted that further discussion on the Pacific Islands Air Services Agreement is required, with a desk review of member benefits linked to Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) trade in services to be performed and feedback to