Cooperatives as Drivers of the Blue-Green Economy in the Pacific: A Regional Dialogue on Economic Empowerment and Food Security
The International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP), in partnership with the Department of Cooperative Business (DCB), convened the Regional Dialogue on “Cooperatives as Drivers of the Blue–Green Economy in the Pacific: Economic Empowerment and Food Security” from 28 to 30 January 2026, in Nadi, Fiji. The dialogue brought together senior government leaders, cooperative regulators, practitioners, and development partners from across the Pacific region, and was organised under the ICA–EU Financial Framework Partnership Agreement Phase II (FFPA II).
The dialogue opened with strong policy leadership from the Government of Fiji and the cooperative movement. Mr. Peni Sikivou, Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Business Development, Fiji, delivered the welcome address. This was followed by a Keynote Address by Hon. Esrom Immanuel, Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development, Fiji, who underscored the importance of cooperatives in strengthening food security, livelihoods, and climate resilience across island economies.
A keynote panel on “Why Cooperatives Matter in the Blue–Green Economy” reinforced the role of cooperatives in addressing market failures, strengthening food security, and enabling community-led climate resilience. Moderated by Mr. Balasubramanian Iyer, Regional Director, ICA-AP, the panel featured:
- Mr. Amena Banuve, Director, Land Resources and Planning Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, Fiji
- Mr. William Naviti, Director, Ministry of Fisheries, Vanuatu
- Ms. Lee Everts, Deputy Head, UNESCAP Sub-Regional Office for the Pacific
Voices from Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea further illustrated how national cooperative systems are responding to shared regional challenges—often with limited resources but strong community trust and participation.
Day two focused on solution-building through thematic labs and working groups with expert inputs from Mr. Hirofumi Kobayashi, Executive Director, IDACA, on agroforestry and organic farming, Mr. Tawake, Regional Manager (West), Fisheries, on fisheries and marine cooperatives, and Ms. Christie Rowena C. Plantilla, CEO, FPSDC, on cooperative entrepreneurship and financing
Working group discussions, co-facilitated by Mr. Nick Hislop and Dr. Ann Apps, culminated in the development of a Pacific Island Cooperative Action Agenda for the Blue–Green Economy.
The day concluded with a closing address by Mr. William Brown Toganivalu, Roving Ambassador of Fiji to the Pacific Islands, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade. Mr. Iyer outlined ICA-AP’s commitment and next steps, followed by closing remarks by Mr Iosefo N. Koroidimuri and a vote of thanks by Ms. Monalisa Kashyap, Programme Coordinator, ICA-AP.
A field visit on the final day to Nature’s Way Cooperative, Rise Beyond the Reef, and Nawaka Cooperative provided participants with practical insights into cooperative-led value chains, women’s economic empowerment, and community-based agriculture in Fiji.
A key outcome of the dialogue was the collective agreement to explore the establishment of a Pacific Island Cooperative Network to strengthen regional representation, coordination, and advocacy. Participants recognised the absence of a unified Pacific cooperative voice and the need to elevate Pacific priorities within regional and global policy processes.