The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare has taken over as chairperson of the Pacific Islands Development Forum.
The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare has been appointed chair of the Pacific Islands Development Forum. Photo: UN Photo/Kim Haughton
He is the first non-Fijian to take on the role since the grouping's first meeting in 2013.
The outgoing chair, Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, told the forum's leadership summit in Honiara the grouping was maturing rapidly and was also a political voice in the region.
He said the forum is now a respected international institution.
The PIDF was the brainchild of Fiji's military led regime which wanted to forge an alliance of Pacific island nations without the influence of Australia and New Zealand.
