Forum Trade Ministers meet in Kiribati [1]
Tuesday, May 27, 2014 - 17:59
Trade ministers from around the region will attend the Pacific Forum Trade Ministers tomorrow 28 May in Kiribati.
The meeting is annually organised by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat for members to discuss Pacific trade and trade negotiations. One of the most important trade negotiations being discussed this year is the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus.
The PACER Plus is a proposed trade, development and economic cooperation agreement currently being negotiated by 13 Pacific Island countries (including Tonga) with New Zealand and Australia.
Secretary General of the Pacific Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade stated “The focus on trade promotion and facilitation initiatives will assist our members in translating opportunities into real trade transactions immediately. It also aligns with global efforts towards improving trade facilitation and is in recognition of the outcomes of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference held in Bali in December 2013,”
“Trade promotion and trade facilitation reforms need to become a priority for the Forum Island Countries to enable them to benefit from the global trading opportunities,”