Twenty five countries are sending observers to the inaugural Pacific Islands Development Forum meeting which begins in Nadi on Monday.
The observers will join the leaders and ministers of 14 countries from the Pacific region, plus NGOs and business leaders for the three day summit at the Sheraton Resort, Denarau.
Special envoys are coming from China, Russia and a range of countries such as Chile and Cuba and government ministers are being sent to represent the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar.
Some of the external observers are contributing to the cost of the event.
The chief guest is the President of Timor Leste Xanana Gusmao.
The Pacific leaders attending are the Presidents and Prime Ministers of Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Nauru, the Deputy Prime Minister of Vanuatu, the Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia plus senior ministers from a range of other Pacific nations and territories.
The Pacific Islands Development Forum will also include NGOs, business leaders and civil society groups from throughout the region.
Story by: Gwen McGoon
