Friday 25 October 2013, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva – The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), through the European Union-funded Increasing Agricultural Commodity Trade (IACT) project, today signed a support agreement to formalise its contribution towards Trade Pasifika 2014.
Under this arrangement, SPC will be assisting five to eight Pacific enterprises to participate in the trade show. These enterprises are supported by the IACT project, which works with enterprises in the Pacific to strengthen their export capacity in the primary industries of agriculture, forestry, aquaculture and livestock. SPC will also assist in technical areas, such as marketing and promotion of the event.
The partnership strengthens the existing memorandum of understanding between SPC and the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO), which was signed earlier this year. PIPSO is the parent body responsible for organising Trade Pasifika.
The much-anticipated regional trade event will showcase agriculture, aquaculture and tourism products from 17 Pacific Island countries over three days. Pacific women entrepreneurs will be given prominence at the show.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Ambassador of Trade Pasifika 2014 and Chair of the Trade Pasifika Steering Committee, Mr Kaliopate Tavola, acknowledged SPC as a founding member of Trade Pasifika and a steadfast supporter of regional trade.
‘The crucial role that SPC plays in enabling and empowering small and medium enterprises to be effective and consistent exporters of some very specialised, value-added, certified exports allows the entrepreneurs to take full advantage of the increasing market opportunities and premium prices. This makes all our efforts for Trade Pasifika so worthwhile,’ he said.
Similar views were expressed by the officer currently in charge of the SPC Suva office, Michael Petterson, who said that SPC was pleased to partner with Trade Pasifika 2014.
‘We hope that this initiative will help position the Pacific to become a recognised provider of high quality, consistent, safe and clean products,’ he added.
Mr Petterson explained that the remoteness of some Pacific enterprises makes it difficult for them to gain access to large, offshore markets for their products. According to him, Trade Pasifika 2014 will provide a platform for Pacific enterprises to meet with buyers and foster business relationships that will help secure markets for their products.
Trade Pasifika 2014, which will be held at the Vodafone Arena in Suva, Fiji from 2–4 April 2014, has the theme: Exporting for growth, it’s everyone’s business.
SPC