Solomon Islands is beginning preparations for the upcoming 20th Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders’ Summit in June this year.

The Solomon Islands Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) this week has set up a taskforce to oversee preparations for the Summit.

The taskforce Chaired by William Soaki, Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs is comprised of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade and other relevant Ministries. It began its first preparatory meeting in Honiara yesterday.

The Leaders’ Summit will take place from June 24-26. Preceding the Summit is the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) from June 18-19 to be followed by the Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM) from June 22-23.

Solomon Islands was given the opportunity to host the 20th MSG Leaders’ Summit at the last meeting in June 2013 in Noumea, New Caledonia.

The MSG is an intergovernmental organization made of the four Melanesian states of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu, and the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front of New Caledonia.

 

Source: Press Release, Government Communications Unit