Results for trade

The 95th Session of the ACP Council of Ministers Meeting was opened on June 11, with an emphasis to reinvent ACP as a group to ensure a more solid relationship with the European Union and become a world player under a changing global landscape.

Like your correspondent Sione Mokofisi from the US, I too would like to see more trade between Tonga and NZ and especially our agricultural exports. It will offer an opportunity for both countries to mitigate what is now a long-running multi-million dollar imbalance in favour of New Zealand. That's a commonly held fact which backgrounds the trade discussions between NZ and Tonga over the years. Which is why I'm surprised at the claims of a trade barrier and price-control policies restricting inflows of Tongan watermelons.- Sefita Hao'uli

Finding regional solutions to challenges faced by the Pacific Maritime sector such as the increasing regulation and requirements of the international and domestic shipping industries, was discussed during the Second Pacific Ministers for Maritime Transport Meeting that opened in Nuku'alofa today.

The New Zealand Pacific Business Council (NZPBC) will hold its two yearly Expo, bringing together more than 110 Exhibitors from 14 Pacific nations, representing a diverse range of industries and services. The 2008 Pacific Trade Expo, being held on 5 and 6 March at the Waitakere Trusts Stadium, Auckland, will be officially opened by Prime Minister, Rt Hon Helen Clark on Wednesday, 5 March at 9.00 am.

Tonga will be sending its largest ever trade mission of over 30 businesses to the 2008 Pacific Trade Expo to be held in Auckland on March 5-6.

Why are we still exporting vanilla beans in its raw form, squash in green form, fish, seaweeds, Kava, and many more? We can easily process them and export to earn higher value (value adding). Why are we importing frozen fruits and vegetables, frozen meat, etc? Processing and preservation of these products can be easily done in Tonga. We need to invest more in applied research and product development.-Edgar Cocker

Is Tonga ready to become a member of the World Trade Organisation? The Tongan Minister responsible for Trade, Hon. Dr Masaso Paunga, is confident that Tonga has done all the right things by signing the appropriate international conventions, and free trade agreements, and that Tonga is now ready to become a member of the WTO sometime next year. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

Consumption is up as economic activity increases in Tonga. Trade figures for the first quarter of 2000 compared to the same period in 1999, for selected Tonga imports. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 3, September 2000.