Fiji, Oct. 16 -- Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa says improving the efficiency, affordability, and safety of payments across the Blue Pacific is vital for building a more inclusive and resilient regional economy.

Speaking at the 2025 World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in Washington DC, Waqa said, "For our Pacific Island nations, payment systems are the arteries of commerce, remittances, and livelihoods. Yet today, Pacific businesses and families still face some of the highest transaction costs in the world."

He said the Forum Secretariat, in partnership with the World Bank, Pacific central banks, and development partners, is working to address this challenge through the Pacific Strengthening of Correspondent Banking Relationships Pro...