The Pacific Islands

• Mr Verghese Mathews was appointed as Singapore's Non-resident High Commissioner to Fiji and first Non-resident Ambassador to the Pacific Islands Forum on 29 December 2011. He presented his credentials in January 2012.

• Samoan Minister of Finance Faumuina Tiatia Liuga transited Singapore in April 2012 and met with Minister of State (Finance) Mrs Josephine Teo. 

• Singapore organised the first Singapore - Pacific Ministerial Study Visit from 6 to 10 August 2012.  A total of 13 delegations from the Pacific Island countries and regional organisations were represented.  The delegations included that of Premier of Niue Toke Talagi, Deputy Prime Minister of Cook Islands Tom Marsters, Foreign Ministers of Fiji, Nauru, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and other Ministers and senior officials from PNG, Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia and the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

• Singapore established bilateral relations with Niue and Cook Islands on 6 August 2012 through the signing of two Joint Communiqués.  Niuean Premier Toke Talagi represented Niue and Cook Islands Depury Prime Minister Tom Marsters, the Cook Islands.  Singapore was represented by Minister Shanmugam for both signings.

• President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau of Fiji made a working visit to Singapore from 15 to 19 August 2012 during which he called on President Tony Tan.
  

Bilateral relations between Singapore and the Pacific Island countries are warm and friendly, underpinned by strong political goodwill. Singapore has established diplomatic relations with Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Niue, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Timor-Leste.  Singapore has representation in Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Fiji and the Pacific Islands Forum through Non-Resident Ambassadors.

Our top trading partners in the South Pacific are Fiji, the Marshall Islands and Papua New Guinea.  Besides trade and investments, cooperation with the Pacific Islands also takes place under the auspices of the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP).  The SCP provides technical assistance which focuses on training and enhancing the skills of participants in various fields such as civil aviation, port management and civil service matters.  As of October 2012, over 3500 officials from the Pacific Island countries have received training in Singapore under the Singapore Cooperation Programme.

• Singapore Cooperation Programme