Prime Minister, Doctor Derek Sikua, will leave this Wednesday to attend the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting in Vanuatu.
Dr Sikua expects to join Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare who will make a brief stop over in Honiara on his way to Vanuatu in his VIP jet.The three day conference is expected to focus on some of the pressing political issues within the MSG, such as a return of civilian rule and democracy in Fiji from the current regime, and the question of whether to issue an observer's status to the Melanesians of West Papua who are part of Indonesia.
Expansion of trade between Melanesian countries is also expected to dominate much of this year's MSG agenda in Port Vila Vanuatu.
Prime Minister Sikua will be accompanied to Vanuatu by senior Government officials.
Doctor Sikua expects to return to Honiara on Sunday.