The Secretary General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), H.E. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, is set to address leaders from 15 Pacific ACP member states on November 7th, 2023, in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. This gathering marks an important event within the 52 Pacific Island Leaders’ Forum meeting , being held from November 6th to the 10th, 2023.

As a prelude to the main plenary sessions, the Secretary-General will deliver a speech at the Pacific ACP leaders’ meeting, focusing on the longstanding collaboration between the OACPS (formerly known as the ACP Group of States) and the Pacific Islands Forum. The address will also shed light on the signing of the Samoa agreement and the important role the Pacific Island Forum will play in its implementation.

Following his engagement in the Cook Islands, the Secretary General will proceed to Samoa for the signing of the Samoa Agreement on November 15, 2023.

The new OACPS-EU Partnership Agreement – to be known as the Samoa Agreement, provides a strengthened and modernised framework for cooperation between the OACPS and the EU.

Media outlets and journalists seeking further information or interviews are kindly requested to contact Sousa Jamba at sousa.jamba@acp.int.