Vice President Aren Palik of the Federated States of Micronesia said that the Air Nauru Island Hopper Flight, connecting Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Pohnpei and Palau brings new opportunities for the Micronesian countries, especially trade and tourism.
Joining the President of Nauru David Ranibok Adeang, Nauru Speaker Stephen, and other officials from Nauru, FSM Vice President Aren Palik traveled on the inaugural Air Nauru Island Hopper Flight to Palau on December 1st, 2023.
Experiencing the flight, Vice President Palik saw opportunities for the people from the Micronesian countries to reconnect and develop trade with each other. Before joining politics, a former President of the Pacific Island Development Bank (PIDB) saw trade opportunities that the people of Micronesia could benefit from in the new connectivity.
“This is a welcomed opportunity for us as a Micronesian family, Palau, Marshall Islands, FSM, Kiribati, and Nauru, to continue to work together, especially in areas related to trade and tourism development and also an improved connectivity for our people to travel within our region and beyond,” said Vice President Palik during the welcoming ceremony of the inaugural flight of Air Nauru to Palau.
The weekly flights connect Australia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau, providing opportunities for people to connect to onward destinations.