The International Monetary Fund says unemployment and poverty are two pressing issues facing the South Pacific region.
The Fiji Times reports that during an IMF Workshop at the Reserve Bank of Fiji in Suva on Thursday, IMF resident representative for Pacific Island Countries Yongzheng Yang said the increase in poverty levels was a common factor in the region.
He says another challenge is how to raise growth and create more jobs for young people in the region.
Mr Yang says the IMF did not directly involve itself in policies concerning poverty but indirectly addressed the issue by working in collaboration with governments.