Tonga will host a trade adviser for the Polynesian sub-region, covering Tonga, Niue, Tuvalu, Samoa and the Cook Islands, and employed by Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), under a new multi-million Euro programme.

Yesterday, June 6, a Hosting Agreement was signed between the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development (MTED) on behalf of the Government of Tonga, and PIFS, to host the SPIRIT Polynesian sub-regional Trade Adviser at the Ministry in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. 

The trade adviser, Mr. Stephen Musubire, is employed by PIFS, under the financial assistance of the European Union through the “Strengthening Pacific Intra Regional and International Trade” program, or SPIRIT.

The program worth EUR 5.75 million will place trade advisers to the different sub-regions, Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.

In a statement, the Ministry stated that the SPIRIT programme aims at boosting and increasing intra-regional and international trade by strengthening institutional and technical capacity in the region.

“It will facilitate the implementation of trade agreements, in particular the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Pacific’s Aid-for-Trade Strategy 2020-2025.

“SPIRIT will also contribute to the development of a statistical monitoring framework that will foster greater regional economic integration.

The trade advisers will help member countries with technical support and advice, and deliver a range of capacity-building and training initiatives to the Pacific countries.

MTED held a  signing ceremony of the Hosting Agreement yesterday.