PORT VILA, 19th June 2025 – Prime Minister Jotham Napat will participate in his first ever international engagement next week as he prepares to attend the Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders 23rd Summit in Fiji on Monday.
The Leaders’ Summit is usually preceded by the Senior Officials Meeting and the Foreign Ministers Meeting – the former commencing on Wednesday this week and continuing on Thursday. The Foreign Ministers meeting takes place on Friday 20th June 2025.
Prime Minister Napat leaves on Friday to participate in various activities over the weekend, organized by the hosts – Fiji – culminating in the Leaders’ Summit proper on Monday.
On Tuesday he is expected to hold bilateral discussions with some of the MSG member countries before returning on Wednesday 25th June 2025.
As outgoing Chairman of the MSG, Prime Minister Napat is also expected to formally handover the Chairmanship of the MSG to Fiji before the Leaders’ Summit. The handover is expected to be done in the formal traditional Melanesian fashion.
In his absence, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Johnny Koanapo Rasou, will be Acting Prime Minister.