Export strategy

THERE needs to be a specific sector plan for exporting to New Zealand, says Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand Trade Commissioner Glynis Miller.

She says after speaking to Fijian exporters, most of the companies did not have a sector plan for export.

The Trade Commissioner explained that some of the strategies that could be part of the in-depth export strategy could outline market specific needs such as when local businesses could export to New Zealand.

“One thing that you have to consider about New Zealand is the seasons and out of the four, there are two seasons in a year, winter and spring, that New Zealand are challenged to find certain fresh produce,” she said.

“What they can’t grow, they import.

“There’s these four to six months of the year which they can’t source from anywhere else in the world because there’s seasonal change so they look to the Pacific.

“So that’s the window of opportunity for the Pacific.

“I am trying to influence the thinking here in Fiji that when you go for a six-month window you can get a premium price better than what you can from a 12-month window.

“She said strategic thinking was also needed at the national level specifically from policymakers.

“There’s a lot of strategic thinking and planning that’s required at the national level to put in place a nice well rounded strategy for the New Zealand market,” she said.

“No country in the region has an export strategy for New Zealand. It’s just a national export strategy.

“They should be tailor-made for the market.

“For agencies like Pacific Trade Invest and PHAMA Plus and a few others, that is something that we are trying to push for.

“The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s Pacific Islands Trade and Invest (PTI) network creates jobs in the Pacific Islands.”

The organisation does this by developing and promoting Pacific Island exports,investments, tourism and creative arts across international markets.

The PTI network focuses on the development of export-capable businesses and the international promotion and support of exporters in Pacific island countries.