Michael Greenslade has been appointed Trade Commissioner of Pacific Islands Trade & Invest (PT&I) in New Zealand.
Mr Greenslade joins PT&I, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s (PIFS) trade and investment promotion arm, from New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE). He was Trade Commissioner-Pacific at NZTE and served the organisation for 12 years, five of which were spent in Fiji, as the Trade Commissioner based in Suva.
He has hands on private sector experience in export trading, including in the Pacific, particularly in horticulture and agricultural products. His expertise includes marketing, value chain processes, joint venture dealings and market matchmaking.
As the Auckland-based Trade Commissioner of PT&I (NZ), Mr Greenslade’s responsibilities will include providing appropriate market support to Forum Island Countries in facilitating trade, and in particular support for exports of Pacific Island products to New Zealand, and inward investments into the Pacific Islands.
Announcing the appointment, Ms Andie Fong Toy, Acting Secretary General of PIFS said, “The PT&I network is an important vehicle to support Pacific island businesses. Mr Greenslade’s wide ranging trade and investment experience and his knowledge of the Pacific islands’ private sector positions him well to be fully operational in his role as soon as he takes office.”
Mr Greenslade, who begins his new assignment on November 17 said, “The PT&I role will allow me to continue interacting with the governments and private sector parties, who are well known to me.”
“It is of clear benefit for the whole region, including New Zealand and Australia, to have a strong economic foundation for the commercial growth of the Pacific private sector. I look forward to being part of the PT&I team delivering economic development support and trade and investment opportunities to member nations of the Pacific Islands Forum.”
The Acting Secretary General, Ms Fong Toy said, “Mr Greenslade’s intimate knowledge of the New Zealand market for the import of products from the Pacific and his knowledge of investment channels will be crucial assets for the PT&I network.”
Mr Greenslade is a graduate of Massey University, New Zealand, where he gained a Masters of Business Administration degree.
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