A scoping study on the development of a kava-based pharmaceutical/nutraceutical industry in the Pacific was launched during an initial meeting on 28 September at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Fiji.

The chief guest, Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Trade, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, Mr. Shaheen Ali shared deep and useful insights on Fiji’s policies and future direction on developing the kava value chain, the importance of protecting its intellectual property rights as a product unique to the Pacific region and how value-adding raw kava to processed or semi-processed products in the Pacific region before exporting them to international markets increases its commercial value, provides employment and income generation opportunities for our people, lifting people out of poverty, among other benefits.

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