Today’s media focus has been on the Prime Minister attending the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Meeting being held in Tonga from 27 to 29 August 2024. This meeting was preceded by the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM) in Fiji earlier this month, and before that by a meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) in Geneva, Switzerland.
While the theme this week’s gathering in Tonga will be the Climate and Regional Security, the previous meetings were more about trade and economy. Topics at the FEMM conference included ‘The Pacific Roadmap for Economic Development (PRED)’ and ‘The Correspondent Banking Relationship Roadmap.’
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) meeting had more relevance to those of us involved in international trade. It announced a significant development in its trade advancement efforts, securing a transformative A$14.7 million (US$9.67 million) grant agreement with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). This funding, spanning from 2024 to 2027, aims to bolster trade development across the Pacific region.
The agreement was formalised in a ceremony in Geneva, attended by Ambassador James Baxter of the Australian Permanent Mission to the WTO and Ambassador Mere Falemaka of the PIF Permanent Delegation to the WTO and UN. This grant agreement consists of two main components aimed at reinforcing PIF’s trade and development initiatives.
The grant ensures the continued operation and core functions of the PIF Geneva Office. This includes support for WTO negotiations and multilateral trade engagement, enhancing export promotion through Pacific Trade Invest Europe, and providing new resources for engaging with UN non-trade functions that are of priority to the Pacific region.
Prior to all these important meetings mentioned above, Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa chaired the 7th Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Independent Advisory Board meeting in Sydney, Australia to consider business growth in the Blue Pacific and build opportunities for export-ready and investment-ready businesses.
The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is a critical regional intergovernmental organisation that fosters cooperation and integration among Pacific countries. With its headquarters in Suva, Fiji, and an office in Geneva, the PIF plays a vital role in advocating for the interests of its member states in various international forums, including the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations (UN).
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