|
A representative group of Fiji’s leading exporters is currently attending the inaugural “Pacific Path to Market” workshop at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat headquarters in Suva, Fiji. The programme is an export capacity building initiative that combines a range of export facilitation services for companies in Fiji and the Pacific, with a wide spectrum of expertise from relevant businesses and organisations, to help export-ready and export-capable businesses enter new markets. Welcoming the impressive turnout of Fiji exporters at the three-day workshop, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, said, “Fiji is an acknowledged export leader in the region. It is therefore pleasing to see such a good cross-section of the country’s export industries participating in this workshop, and the indication you provide of commitment to growing your export business and helping position Fiji as a key player in the international marketplace.” Mr Slade expressed confidence that the event would result in flow-on benefits for other countries in the region. Organisers of the Pacific Path to Market workshop, the Pacific Islands Trade and Invest (PT&I) network, urged businesses tomaximise the three-day workshop saying, “Whether it be compliance with international market requirements, or supply chain issues, we have relevant technical partners present at this workshop to assist you in addressing the relevant details.” One-to-one meetings between Fiji manufacturers and exporters and buyers from overseas markets and branding experts, including supply chain professionals, are also scheduled in the margins of the workshop. These meetings will take place on Tuesday, 1 April and on Wednesday, 2 April between 9am and 2pm at the Forum Secretariat offices. To schedule a meeting, interested parties may send their request to Ms Paula Bjelanovic at Paula@pacifictradeinvest.com The workshop has been made possible through funding assistance from the European Union under the Pacific Integration Technical Assistance Project (PITAP), and is being implemented by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s PT&I network. “This Pacific Path to Market programme is important to the EU because it complements one of the key objectives of the Pacific Integration Technical Assistance Programme,” said Johnny Engell-Hansen, Deputy Head of Delegation, from the European Union Office based in Suva. “The EU aims to promote economic growth in the Pacific through trade and through improvement in the competitiveness of the private sector by harnessing the opportunities offered by global markets,” he added. Participants at the workshop will hear from prominent international industry experts who will share some insights on their work in exporting to international markets with a focus on markets in New Zealand, Australia and China. There will also be opportunities to hear the experiences of some of Fiji’s leading private sector export businesses. The PT&I network is the regional entity that seeks to promote trade and investment for the Forum island countries. It is a regional service available to the private sector in all Pacific countries to assist the private sector in exporting their goods and services and to seek inward investments. The PT&I offices work directly with the private sector to help boost their capacity to promote their products and services in the identified markets. ENDS |