Delivered by the Chair of the Smaller Island States Leaders Meeting, President of Palau, H.E Surangel Whipps, Jr
Ngarachamayong Cultural Center, Koror, Palau
31 August 2026
Colleague Leaders,
Alii, my colleague Leaders.
Welcome to Belau. It is a deep honour for the people and Government of Belau to be able to host this engagement, as well as the broader 55th Pacific Islands Forum this week.
Mesulang for this opportunity to do so.
In turning to the meeting at hand, may I also offer my appreciation to President Maamau and the Government of Kiribati for their stewardship of the Smaller Island States over the past year and for guiding the work that is now before us.
Indeed, it is reflective of and speaks to the theme that we have chosen for the Forum this year: B.E.L.A.U – Building Economies: Life. Action. Unity.
The theme reflects a simple but important conviction: that building stronger economies is not an end in itself – it must elevate the livelihoods of our people, create tangible and sustainable opportunities for our economies, and unite us in our ongoing efforts to deepen regionalism through integration.
It is fitting that the Smaller Island States Leaders Meeting is the first of our Leaders’ meetings this week. The clarity and unity we establish here will ensure a stronger SIS voice in the wider Forum deliberations this week.
I thank our Senior Officials who have worked together throughout the year to progress the proposals before us for deliberation. The onus is now on us, to consider how best we can position ourselves to ensure that we are able to advance these matters in a constructive and positive manner.
As incoming Chair, Palau will place particular emphasis on follow-through. The value of our decisions will be measured not only by the language that we agree to, but by the tangible outcomes that they generate for our people.
In this way, the SIS can give practical meaning to Life, Action, and Unity.
In that spirit, I encourage us to be concise and candid in our reflections today.
With those remarks, I look forward to our deliberations and now invite the Secretary General to deliver his opening remarks.
[ENDS]
