The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, will attend on behalf of the Government of Spain the 55th meeting of leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), which will take place in Palau from August 30 to September 4, under the rotating presidency of this island country.
Planas will participate in this high-level forum, which brings together heads of state and ministerial officials, with the intention of exchanging initiatives and experiences to address the effects of climate change on different productive sectors.
During the meeting, the minister will present Spain's commitment to multilateralism and to cooperation guided by shared priorities, particularly in the face of challenges such as climate change, food security, and the protection and sustainability of the oceans.
The Pacific island states are among the most vulnerable areas to climate change, which is already affecting their freshwater resources, food production, fishing activity, and the communities living in coastal strips.
In this context, Planas will express Spain's willingness to share its experience in managing limited resources and in adapting productive systems, putting it at the service of cooperation with the countries of the region.
During his stay in Palau, the minister will also hold bilateral meetings with delegations from different states in the area to discuss matters of shared interest, with special attention to food security and cooperation in the agri-food sector.
The trip will continue on September 2 in the Philippines, where Planas will meet with his counterpart, Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., to discuss bilateral relations and various topics of interest for the agri-food sector.
Planas will also participate in the presentation of the Group of Spanish Chefs in the Philippines, an event that will highlight the presence of Spanish agri-food products and the ties between both sectors.