The Pacific Islands Trade & Invest (PT&I) network, the trade and investment arm of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, is organizing a three day workshop from 31 March to 2 April in Suva.
The Pacific Path to Market Workshop – a first for Fiji, will address market compliance constraints and highlight specific solutions to enhance exporters’ capacity. The importance of branding, cost-effective packaging, dealing with logistics and having an effective supply chain will also be discussed.
The ‘Pacific Path to Market Workshop’ is specifically designed to respond to the exporters’ current and future needs. The programme has been developed based on consultations with a number of businesses in Fiji over the past year to assist in increasing their exports.
The workshop is funded by the European Union through the European Development Fund, under the Pacific Integration Technical Assistance Project (PITAP) implemented by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. PITAP is a component of the Strengthening Pacific Economic Integration through Trade (SPEITT).
The Pacific Islands Trade & Invest network has brought industry experts and international speakers from China and New Zealand to give a first-hand account of doing business in these markets. Export promotion staff from the PT&I offices in Auckland, Beijing and Sydney will be presenting opportunities in these markets for Fiji exports.
More than 80 businesses have confirmed attendance. This high level of interest shown by Fiji businesses is an indication of the drive that Fiji’s private sector has to explore new and emerging opportunities.
The Pacific Path to Market Workshop is expected to be organised in other Forum island countries later in the year. Representatives from some of the Pacific island countries are attending as observers at this workshop.
Workshop Details
The Pacific Path to Markets Workshop will be held at the Ryoichi Jinnai Conference Centre, at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, in Suva, Fiji from the 31 March to 1 April, followed by an opportunity for one-to-one meetings with the specialists on 2 April.
The workshop aims to improve the export capabilities in the Pacific Islands by addressing key challenges related to: (1) Approaching the market, (2) Market entry strategies, and (3) Compliance with market requirements.
Key International Speakers include:
• Nathan Royce, Business Development Manager, Prepared Produce Limited
• Rod Upchurch, Managing Director, Brando Creative
• Stephen Fung, Associate Partner, Deutsche Post DHL Inhouse Consulting Asia-Pacific
• Sue Zhou, Founder of Sue Zhou Does Food, Owner of Hani Geiju Restaurant, Chef and Tutor at The Hutong, Beijing
• Swapnil Kuwalekar, Territory Manager, Upper North Island, GS1 New Zealand
MEDIA RELEASE.