State of Israel-Pacific Leaders’ Summit Outcomes Statement Thursday, February 20, 2020 Nadi, Fiji The State of Israel - Pacific Islands Leaders’ Summit, hosted by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji, Hon. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, was held in Nadi, on Thursday, February 20, 2020. The Pacific Island Leaders in attendance welcomed the President of Israel, His Excellency Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin to the Summit. The Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa, Hon. Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Hon. James Marape, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, Hon. Vuna Fa’otusia and Deputy Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Hon. Minute Alapati Taupo have participated in the Summit, which was chaired by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji, Hon. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama. High level Representatives from other Island States, included the Minister for Foreign Affairs for the Solomon Islands, Hon. Jeremiah Manele, Minister for Internal Affairs for the Republic of Vanuatu, Hon. Andrew Napuat and Charge D’Affaires of the Federated States of Micronesia Embassy in Fiji, Mr Wilson Waguk were among the participants of this historic meeting. The Leaders affirmed the bond of friendship and solidarity, existing between the State of Israel and the Pacific Island Countries, and between their people for many decades, based on mutual democratic values and partnership. The Leaders agreed to strengthen further the cooperation between the State of Israel and the Pacific Island Countries to support efforts to address sustainable development challenges, based on the unique experience and innovative skills of Israel in the fields of Public Health, Food Security, Water Management, (Renewable Energy, Climate Change adaptation and mitigation), among others. The Leaders agreed to strengthen efforts towards the facilitation of further engagement of the private sector from the State of Israel, to participate in projects focused on the sustainable development of the Pacific Islands. Bilateral projects were discussed between the State of Israel and the Pacific Leaders, among which were several private sectors economic initiatives, for example, the development of agricultural farms and infrastructure projects in Papua New Guinea, the development of a new water purification installation for the Federated States of Micronesia, a donation of a Water Purification Installation to Nauru and previous donations of water desalination systems to several island countries in need. The Leaders acknowledged the offer of the President of the State of Israel of 100 scholarships in Agriculture studies for the Pacific Island Countries in the framework of a one-year work and study programme in the Arava International Center for Agriculture Training (AICAT) College in the Negev, in the southern part of Israel starting on August 2020. A Pilot programme was launched in 2019-2020 with 10 first students from Vanuatu and 9 first students from Fiji. The successful interim results of this Pilot project were presented to the Pacific Leaders during the Summit. The new opportunity offered by the State of Israel is in addition to the other scholarships given to Pacific Islanders for relevant short and long-term sustainable development training courses in Israel each year. The Leaders agreed to further strengthen the cooperation with Israel in Disaster Preparedness through the exchange of knowledge, experience and courses offered in Israel and by Israeli experts. The President affirmed the State of Israel’s continued and strengthened support for Humanitarian Assistance to Pacific Island Countries in cases of Emergency and in Disaster situations. The President of Israel announced the launching of the "Israel – Pacific Food Security Alliance" (IPFSA), to enhance cooperation between the State of Israel and the Pacific Island States in fields related to food security. A first step in this regard would be taken in the course of 2020, with a visit of a senior delegation from MASHAV, Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation, to the Pacific to develop a mutual work programme. The alliance will consist of trainings and capacity building activities in areas related to food and water security, both in Israel and in Pacific Island Countries. The cooperation will focus on collaboration with regional institutions, such as the agricultural branch of the University of the South Pacific Alafua Campus in Samoa, Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resources and Environment (Agriculture and Sustainable Development Program) and other tertiary institutions with related programs in the region. The Leaders agreed to encourage bilateral tourism, including pilgrimage and leisure tourism, in view of the facilitating bilateral Visa Waiver Agreements, which were signed in recent years between the State of Israel and many Pacific Island Countries. The Leaders welcomed the Bilateral Visa Exemption Agreement signed between the Deputy Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Hon. Minute Alapati Taupo, and the Ambassador of the State of Israel, Mr. Tibor Shalev Schlosser. The Leaders further agreed that the State of Israel - Pacific Islands Leaders’ Summit would be an established Forum between the State of Israel and the Pacific Island Countries and future meetings will be held at the convenience of members, including in the margins of international high-level meetings. .