August 20, 2026
PALIKIR, Pohnpei — August 19, 2026 — The Honorable Aren B. Palik, Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia, represented the FSM at the 28th Micronesian Islands Forum (MIF), where he addressed regional leaders, dignitaries, development partners, youth representatives, and other participants on the Forum’s opening day.
Vice President Palik acknowledged the outgoing Forum Chair, Her Excellency Hilda C. Heine, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and welcomed the new Forum Chair, the Honorable Stevenson A. Joseph, Governor of Pohnpei State. He also extended his respect and appreciation to the Traditional Leaders, Government, and people of Pohnpei State for hosting the regional gathering.
The Vice President congratulated Governor Joseph on assuming the chairmanship and commended the organizers for bringing the Forum together.
In his remarks, Vice President Palik addressed several priorities for the FSM and the wider Micronesian region, including tourism and transportation connectivity, trade and investment, ocean conservation, energy security, climate change, health, gender equality, and skills development.
On tourism, he called for greater air connectivity beyond the traditional east-west aviation corridor, including stronger north-south connections that could create new opportunities for economic development and sustainable tourism.
“If we truly want to unlock the economic potential of our islands, we must think beyond the traditional corridors,” Vice President Palik said.
These priorities were also reflected in the opening remarks of His Excellency Surangel S. Whipps Jr., President of the Republic of Palau; President Heine; and Governor Joseph, who spoke about the shared challenges and opportunities facing the region, including climate change, tourism, education, and workforce development.
“Truly, we are stronger together…When Micronesia speaks with one voice, the region listens,” President Whipps said.
Speaking on the urgency of climate action, Governor Joseph said, “We can no longer treat climate change as an emergency that catches us by surprise.”
Vice President Palik also emphasized the importance of protecting Micronesia’s shared ocean and highlighted the FSM’s Marine Spatial Planning efforts and partnerships to advance marine conservation.
“Our collective actions and unified voice represent our greatest strength in ensuring the health and resilience of our shared ocean and the Blue Pacific,” Vice President Palik said.
Turning to energy security, he said the recent fuel crisis demonstrated the region’s vulnerability to external shocks and reinforced the need for renewable energy, resilient infrastructure, shared technical expertise, and closer subregional cooperation. He also reaffirmed the FSM’s goals of achieving 70 percent renewable energy by 2030, 80 percent by 2035, and net-zero emissions by 2050.
The Vice President further called for stronger regional health systems, greater investment in the local healthcare workforce, expanded opportunities for young people and workers, and continued action to advance gender equality.
He highlighted the recently concluded 2026 Micronesian Ministerial Women Conference and encouraged the Forum to note and endorse the Kamorale Declaration, which promotes the participation, safety, and economic empowerment of women and girls throughout Micronesia.
On workforce development, Vice President Palik pointed to the recent international accreditation of the FSM Skills Testing and Certification Unit as an important step toward strengthening professional qualifications, expanding employment opportunities, and improving the recognition of skills across borders.
In closing, Vice President Palik encouraged participants to approach the Forum’s discussions with openness, collaboration, and a commitment to consensus, with the shared goal of delivering better outcomes for the people of Micronesia and building a more resilient and prosperous region for future generations.
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