South Pacific Tourism Organisation courtesy call on MSG Secretariat

Mr. Ilan Kiloe, OIC MSG Secretariat (left) explains the role and activities of the Secretariat to Mr. Christopher Cocker while Mrs. Sovaia Marawa looks on. Ilan and Sovaia during the discussions.

Mr. Kiloe and Mrs. Marawa during the discussions.

Mr. Cocker being presented a copy of the newly released MSG Secretariat Newsletter, Melanesian Tok Issue 9.

28 August 2019

Mr. Christopher Cocker, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO, paid the MSG Secretariat a courtesy call on Wednesday 28 August 2019 while visiting Vanuatu on business. Mr. Cocker was met by Mr. Ilan Kiloe, Officer in Charge and Program Manager Political and Security Affairs and Mrs. Sovaia Marawa, Trade Policy and Investment Advisor on behalf of the Director General Ambassador Amena Yauvoli.

During discussions, Mr. Cocker updated the Secretariat team on developments taking place in the tourism sector in the South Pacific and on current projects that SPTO are involved in. He added that membership has grown to a total of 20 South Pacific nations now registered under the SPTO.

Mr. Kiloe updated Mr. Cocker on the role and activities of the MSG Secretariat and in particular the addition of the new Sports & Arts and Culture Programme which would directly benefit our MSG members. There were exchanges of ideas on how the two organisations can collaborate further on similar programmes to benefit its mutual members of the MSG.

Mr. Cocker reiterated the importance of preserving and maintaining our cultures and traditions. Other issues discussed include the potential review of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two organisations with a view to refocus on emerging priorities of the two organisations