The Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States will be held from 1 to 4 September 2014 in Apia, Samoa, to be preceded by activities related to the conference from 28 to 30 August 2014, also in Apia, Samoa. It will focus the world’s attention on a group of countries that remain a special case for sustainable development in view of their unique and particular vulnerabilities. The Conference will seek to achieve the following objectives: a. assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation; b. seek a renewed political commitment by focusing on practical and pragmatic actions for further implementation; c. identify new and emerging challenges and opportunities for the sustainable development of SIDS and means of addressing them; and d. identify priorities for the sustainable development of SIDS to be considered in the elaboration of the post-2015 UN development agenda.