Trade officials have talanoa for first time in Niue
For the first time officials representing the countries in the Pacer Plus free trade agreement are meeting face-to-face due to covid preventing any meetings.
The regional governance meeting is being held this week on Niue.
Eight island nations have ratified the Pacer Plus deal on trade in goods and services - Niue, the Cook Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Tonga, along with Australia and New Zealand.
Another six Pacific nations are parties to the agreement.
The Pacer Plus Implementation Unit’s Roy Lagolago said this week’s meeting is the first time they have been able to get together face-to-face because of covid-19 shutdowns.
He said they are discussing progress on implementation and the budget for the coming year.
“It’s actually going to be a really exciting three days for everyone to meet each other rather than over some screen, so we will probably
have a better talanoa with all the officials here.
“It’s always hard trying to discuss something virtually, so it’s going to be really good and interesting two days and we are hoping to get a lot achieved.”
While on Niue the advisors have been working through the island’s requirements and achievements so far under Pacer Plus.
One advisor, Alisi Holani, said the trade in services element of the agreement includes a development co-operation package that can provide the strategic support which can make the most of the key advantages Niue has.
She said it would be particularly useful for Niue’s crucial tourism sector.
Holani also said the transition to digital trade is a winner on the island because most of the business in Niue is already e-commerce driven. -