Civil Society call for release of Indo-Pacific Trade Pact Text
Pacific civil society groups are calling for the release of agreements and key documents from the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). A letter was sent to Trade Ministers after the May meeting of Trade
PNG’s trade ties with China are set to strengthen
Richard Maru, PNG’s trade minister, was startlingly direct at the Australia–Papua New Guinea Business Forum and Trade Expo held in Port Moresby last month. “Enough is enough,” he said, complaining that two-way
PNG Trade office in China eyed
China will be one of eight countries where Papua New Guinea will establish trade missions, Papua New Guinea’s Trade minister says. International Trade and Investment Minister Richard Maru said this following a recent
Opening the window
Vanuatu is leading the region in the use of an Electronic Single Window System to ensure trade documentation is organised in a more efficient and transparent way. The manager for the Electronic Single Window Project,
PICTA in the slow lane
My article published in this magazine in June 2021 was entitled ‘Fast-tracking PICTA’. This was a reference to the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement, a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) intended for the Pacific
Promising future for Pacific exporters: PTI Australia
Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Australia says despite half of the businesses responding to its export survey noting a decline in export orders over the past year, businesses are optimistic about the future. The most recent
A ‘Can Do’ Spirit For MSG and Melanesia
“In terms of the broad Melanesian Spearhead Group family, my intention is to re-institute the spirit of ‘can do’ that characterised the MSG when it was first formed in the 1980s.” That’s Leonard Louma, the new
China, PNG discuss free trade deal
China and Papua New Guinea held talks on a free-trade deal Friday, as Beijing’s foreign minister wrapped up a landmark tour of the Pacific Islands with a stop in the resource-rich nation. Papua New Guinea’s
PTI Australia delivers record Pacific investment deals
Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Australia has recorded more than AUD$27 million (US$12 million) in export deals and a 17 investment deals facilitated in the region, despite the challenging pandemic environment. The Pacific
Kava: brewing up a storm
There’s a storm brewing over the Pacific as a Queensland town mayor suggests kava could be grown in
Inclusivity is expedient for PACER Plus
I wrote: ‘Re-Negotiated PACER Plus for Post-Covid-19 Pacific Regionalism’ for the July 2020 Island Business issue. This was pitched particularly at strengthening Pacific regionalism (Pacific Islands Forum) as a
Inclusivity is expedient for PACER Plus
I wrote: ‘Re-Negotiated PACER Plus for Post-Covid-19 Pacific Regionalism’ for the July 2020 Island Business issue. This was pitched particularly at strengthening Pacific regionalism (Pacific Islands Forum) as a
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
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
