Fast-tracking PICTA
By Ambassador Kaliopate Tavola The Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA), having acquired ratification by signatory Pacific Island Countries (PICs), came into force in 2003. However, some 18 years later, the
Trade
Fast-tracking PICTA
The Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA), having acquired ratification by signatory Pacific Island Countries (PICs), came into force in 2003. However, some 18 years later, the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is
Boosting the Pacific Aid for Trade Strategy
February 2021 marks the first anniversary of the endorsement of the Pacific Aid for Trade Strategy (PAfTS 2020-2025). It was not the first strategy of its type for Pacific regionalism. Clearly, it is too early to make
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat appoints its Trade Commissioner in New Zealand
Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand has a new Trade Commissioner. Mrs Glynis Miller, a Fiji national, was appointed following a recruitment drive in November 2020. The formal announcement was made this week by Secretary
Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand Welcomes New Trade Development Manager
Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand (PTI NZ) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Rohan Lord as Trade Development Manager. Mr Lord joins PTI NZ, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s (PIFS) trade and investment
Cook Islands ratifies PACER Plus
The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus) is to come into force with the Cook Islands ratifying the agreement this week. Cook Islands is the eighth signatory to PACER Plus, joining Australia,
Re-negotiated PACER Plus for post-Covid-19 Pacific regionalism
Globalism is being threatened in the post-Covid-19 global order. However, there is still ample common sense around to counter such a threat. Those engaged are still at an early stage in their coordinated countermove.
Delving into PICTA
In the last issue of Islands Business, I discussed the abysmal state of the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) and concluded that there was indifference in the way signatory countries have regarded and
Figuring Out PIF’s Support for the Multilateral Trading System
The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Trade Ministers met in February in Suva. Their key outcome on the World Trade Organization (WTO) was: “there is support for the multilateral trading system and the opportunity therein
Pacific Trade Invest: 40 years in the Pacific
By Caleb Jarvis As a young boy growing up in Papua New Guinea (PNG), every Saturday Dad would drive up a windy road that overlooked 2-Mile settlement in Port Moresby, where people went about their daily lives. Looking
Australian study to scope more trade with Fiji
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will be at this year’s Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Tuvalu, and Foreign Minister Marise Payne says she is keen to get to Papua New Guinea soon “to visit our
Advancing regional integration
Writing about the future of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in this magazine last month, I concluded: “Economic union will come in due course when we deepen regional integration, specifically regional
Sailing into known waters
Swire boosts import-export services A NEW shipping service combined with the upgrade of liner networks will open up key markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Swire Shipping General Manager, James Woodrow, said Asian
PACER setback
Trade agreement no closer to a Plus in economic cooperation relations for the Pacific JUNE 14, this year, marked the signing ceremony of the Pacific Agreement for Closer Economic Relations (PACER-plus) Trade
Chocolicious
How a 1-week contest inspired farmers and boosted Solomons cocoa exports TEN new farmers emerged as finalists at this year’s Solomon Islands Chocolate Week – a sign that more cocoa producers are becoming
PNG agro products take limelight at Australia-PNG trade show
The 33rd Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum and Trade Expo was a bonus for local agricultural and handicraft producers seeking to promote their products and expand their networks. With support from the Pacific
Pods of gold
New flavour offer for choco industry as Vanuatu cashes in ON Malo Island in Vanuatu, Moli Lui observed in silence as the formalities of greetings and introductions took place to welcome a trade delegation of
Melanesia’s new single market economy
THE Melanesian countries in the Pacific dominate the economic landscape in the region and with that vantage point; they are on the verge of formalising a new free trade agreement to operate in a single market economy
Kava ban
Suspect exports under scrutiny as Fiji prepares to stop two-day kava FIJI will soon ban the importation of the suspect two-day kava variety from Vanuatu to safeguard the quality of its kava exports to the global
Can of worms
Dispute over tinned meat FED up with constant bullying and a continued trade imbalance with its Melanesian neighbour, Papua New Guinea has threatened to ban imports from Fiji. It’s a reaction to Fiji shutting out
The dark side of the trade deal
Pacific nations can open up markets without help of our big brothers THE Pacific Network on Globalisation has been vocal on its opposition to the PACER-Plus trade agreement. It has been at the forefront of civil
Pacific islands to bear costs of PACER-Plus
PACIFIC island governments must retain their right to regulate to protect their national development interests as sovereign states, argues a report commissioned by the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) on the
Copy of Minister defends PACER Plus Regional deal in sight
WITH a month to go before regional governments sign a broad trade agreement with Australia and New Zealand, there are niggling doubts over whether every country will support the deal. Fiji and Papua New Guinea have