Singapore advances Pacific cooperation through resilience, capacity building and climate-smart investment initiatives
Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan visited the Republic of Palau from 31 August to 1 September 2026 to attend the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting. During the visit, he highlighted Singapore’s longstanding partnership with Pacific island states and announced the extension of two capacity-building initiatives supporting Pacific priorities.
Speaking at the PIF Leaders Dialogue with Dialogue Partners on 1 September, Dr Balakrishnan emphasised Singapore’s shared interests with Pacific countries as fellow small island states. He outlined Singapore’s continued support through practical capacity building and knowledge-sharing, including the next phase of the Singapore-Pacific Resilience and Knowledge Sharing (SPARKS) package, which will be extended to 2029, and the extension of the “SIDS of Change” package to FY2028.
The renewed packages will provide capacity-building programmes covering leadership and governance, financial management, artificial intelligence for governance and public service transformation.
Source: Facebook/Vivian Balakrishnan
On the sidelines of the Leaders Meeting in Koror, Dr Balakrishnan also delivered remarks at the Leaders Ascent Dialogue on Climate-Smart Investment. He highlighted the Pacific’s ambition to become the world’s first 100 per cent renewable-powered region and linked the energy transition with energy security, economic resilience and greater strategic autonomy for small states.
Drawing on Singapore’s experience as a city-state with limited land and renewable energy options, Dr Balakrishnan discussed potential approaches to reducing energy costs and improving resilience. He suggested that greater regional energy connectivity could help Pacific states achieve economies of scale and share electricity across their geography.
He also pointed to potential links between a future Pacific grid and Australia’s renewable energy resources, alongside efforts in Southeast Asia to develop the ASEAN Power Grid. “The technology already exists substantially,” Dr Balakrishnan said, adding that the challenge was “getting the economics and politics right”.
Dr Balakrishnan encouraged Pacific officials to participate in Singapore’s annual Singapore-International Energy Agency regional training programme and invited Pacific participation in Singapore International Energy Week, scheduled for 26 to 30 October 2026.
During his visit, Dr Balakrishnan also met leaders and senior representatives from Palau, Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and Nauru. Discussions covered regional and international developments, Pacific priorities and opportunities to further cooperation between Singapore and Pacific countries.
Source: MFA
