.png)
Free, Prosperous & Resilient Pacific Communities
EU PRISE and PEUMP Programmes Launch Promotional Video
Latest
News
.png)
.png)
.png){kind=small}
Pacific Islands Forum Kava Working Group Progress Market Access and Geographical Indication (GI) Talks
The Forum Kava Working Group consists of national focal points from the public and private sectors of the seven Kava-producing countries of Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.
26 May 2025, Nukualofa, TONGA - Pacific Kava Working Group representatives from the public and private sectors met in Nukualofa, Tonga yesterday to progress outstanding issues on two work streams relating to improved market access of Pacific Kava to the EU and other markets and the Forum Island Countries' geographical indication (GI) application to the World Intellectual Property Rights (WIPO).
There is recognition that harnessing the political will of the Leaders of Pacific Island countries is a vital ingredient to this multi-layered and multi-faceted process. The interests of Pacific businesses and other economic operators along the Kava value chain must remain front and center of these discussions. Founder and CEO of Calmer Co (formerly Fiji Kava), Mr. Zane Yoshida and the General Manager of Lami Kava Limited, kava processor and exporter, Mr. Edward Hoerder injected critical private sector perspectives to address the contentious issues facing the Kava industry in the Pacific.
A key outcome of the discussions is the agreement to proceed with sectoral and national consultations on the draft Kava Declaration that will target the upcoming Pacific Trade Ministers and Forum Leaders Meetings in July and September, respectively, on its endorsement. The proposed Kava Declaration aims to formalise the collective political support of Pacific Leaders on, inter alia, the approved regional CODEX Alimentarius definition of Kava as a beverage when mixed with potable water. This protects the multi-million-dollar Pacific export from potential reputational damage caused by other kava-based derivatives that may lead to health-related problems and other complications not related to Kava itself, as defined under the Codex regional standard, CXS 336R-2020.
The meeting was graciously hosted at the residence of Tonga's Special Advisor to H.E. King Tupou VI, Mr. Fe'iloakitau Kaho Tevi, who is also the Chair of the Working Group on Kava Market Access. Vanuatu's Director General for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Biosecurity, and Chairman of the Forum Kava Working Group, Mr. Timothy Tumukon, chaired the meetings.
The EU's next Pacific Trade and Sustainable Development (Pac-TSD) programme in the region is scheduled to be launched in 2026. The Pac-TSD includes two key and relevant priority areas of (1) formulating strategies and implementing actions to use international trade instruments and provisions for viable export-oriented green value chains and (2) improving EU and international market access of Pacific green goods and services, which dovetail neatly with these progressive regional actions.
The meetings culminated in the launch of the inaugural Pacific
Participants included Pacific Kava farmers, manufacturers and exporters, national business association representatives, and Pacific Islands Forum Trade Unit officials. All seven Pacific Kava-producing countries are parties and observers to the EU Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement.
Regional Workshop on the Pacific Regional Quality Policy (PRQP)
The SPIRIT Project, managed by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and funded by the European Union, supports the Pacific Quality Infrastructure Initiative (PQII) activities with a funding allocation of EUR 461,207.
Quality infrastructure (QI) systems include testing laboratories, measurement services, standards organisations, and certification bodies that support Pacific businesses and exporters in the following ways:
-
Easier to sell products internationally: It ensures products meet the safety and quality standards of other countries, making it easier to export them without facing challenges at the borders.
-
Builds trust with buyers: When products are tested and certified properly, customers and partners trust their quality, leading to more sales.
-
Reduces rejection and waste: Proper testing and certification mean fewer products are rejected at borders, saving money and time.
-
Encourages product improvement: Businesses learn how to improve their products to meet higher standards, making them more competitive.
-
Supports economic growth: Exporting more quality products can help develop the local economy and create jobs.
-
Access to new markets: Good quality infrastructure helps businesses enter new countries and grow their customer base.
In the Pacific region, the Pacific Quality Infrastructure Policy will support businesses to access global markets by ensuring their products are of good quality and meet international standards, taking into account their diverse economic profiles.
The regional workshop was opened by the Permanent Secretary of Fiji's Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport, Mr. Shaheen Ali. The PIFS Deputy Secretary General - Governance, Ms. Desna Solofa, also officiated at the event, which is jointly supported by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), and the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU).
EU and Senior Pacific Trade Officials Concluded the 10th Meeting of the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) Trade Committee on 3-7 February 2025, Brussels, Belgium
.jpg)
Tonga Gets 27 New Paravets for Animal Health and Livestock Industry
Twenty seven paravet trainees in Tonga completed the training programme, a milestone that will enhance the nation’s capabilities to support its animal health and livestock industry.
They represent the second batch of paravet graduates in Tonga since 2008.
The individuals (11 females and 16 males) passed their final assessment and are now equipped with knowledge and skills to deliver professional animal healthcare and production advice to farming communities in-country.
Organised by the Pacific Community (SPC) through the European Union-funded Safe Agricultural Trade Facilitation through Economic Integration in the Pacific (SAFE Pacific) project, the training was delivered in partnership with the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Animal Health and Biosecurity Pacific Partnership team, and the Animal Health and Biosecurity Services Ltd.
Source: Television Tonga
Cook Islands Trade Policy Review After Almost a Decade - A Vision of
Economic Resilience, Sustainable Growth, and Shared Prosperity
The Cook Islands Trade Policy Framework (TPF), last reviewed in 2015, is being revised to reflect the country’s evolving economic priorities.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Albert Nicholas, who officiated at the workshop, stated that “[t]his document represents a collective vision for the Cook Islands, a vision of economic resilience, sustainable growth, and shared prosperity.” said Nicholas, emphasizing the policy’s focus on diversification to build a resilient economy.
He added that the updated framework prioritizes trade in services, especially in sectors where the Cook Islands holds a competitive advantage, such as tourism, digital services, and cultural industries.
The consultancy is supported by the EU-funded SPIRIT Project managed by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
Fiji Government Approves the Full Implementation of the EU Pacific Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA)
Suva, Fiji, 21 August 2024 - Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Trade, and Honourable Manoa Kamikamica, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications of Fiji are pleased to announce the further strengthening of bilateral trade relations, through the full implementation of the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and the Pacific States.
🌏🇫🇯 EU-Fiji trade gets a boost! We’ve now fully implemented our Economic Partnership Agreement between 🇪🇺 and Pacific States 🏝️. This means: ✅ More opportunities for businesses & investors ✅ More support for local island economies
RMI goes live with ASYCUDAWorld
The Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) has upgraded its customs processes by implementing the cutting-edge ASYCUDAWorld system backed by the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The system automates customs processes, offering numerous benefits to the trading community in RMI, including the Ministry of Finance’s Customs Division and the Government.
ASYCUDAWorld enhances efficiency, transparency, and improved revenue while reducing time and costs associated with customs processes for the stakeholders. Additionally, it aligns RMI’s customs operations with international standards, most significantly the introduction of the Harmonized System for goods classification, further facilitating global trade and ensuring better data quality and accuracy.
The digital transformation is supported by the European Union’s (EU) Improving Pacific Islands Customs and Trade (IMPACT) Project, implemented by UN Trade and Development’s ASYCUDA Pacific Programme, which aimed at increasing and enhancing regional trade in the Pacific. During the launch, the Minister for Finance of the Republic of Marshall Islands, Mr. David Paul, emphasised on the Government’s commitment to enabling conducive business environment through the innovations in the country.
Providing an overview of the transition journey, the Secretary of Finance, Ms. Ayako Yamaguchi-Eliou, noted that until now, the Customs Division operated without a comprehensive IT system.“We rely on manual methods which limits our ability to address other customs processes effectively. This in turn hampers our compliance with international standards,” she said.“Automation is expected to significantly boost the productivity of our Customs Division, which in turn will enable us to collect duties and trade statistics with greater accuracy; thus providing timely and satisfactory service to all end-users and assist informed planning,” Ms. Yamaguchi-Eliou explained.
The Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to the Pacific, Mr. Maurizio Cian, congratulated the RMI government for the work done to make the implementation possible. Mr. Cian stated that the EU, through the IMPACT Project, aimed to support Pacific States to digitally connect regionally and with the rest of the world to enhance trade.“This system makes it easy to comply with international standards, collect customs revenue, save time and reduce paperwork; therefore, it is a win-win situation for the government, private sector and for all operators,” Mr. Cian highlighted. He further emphasized the continued commitment of the EU in promoting trade development in the Pacific.
Customs officials and the ASYCUDA Project team members from the Ministry of Finance, Customs Division at the Republic of Marshall Islands at the launch of the ASYCUDAWorld.© RMI Government
Additionally, the Regional Coordinator for the United Nations Trade and Development, ASYCUDA Programme – Asia and the Pacific, Mr. Jayvee Santos, emphasized that beyond its numerous benefits, ASYCUDA would facilitate smoother international trade and help RMI meet its regional and international trade obligations, ultimately benefiting the economy as a whole.
Mr. Santos further reminded the participants during the launch that “automating customs services does not come without its challenges; there will be a period of adjustment and learning, however the benefits from the transformation are substantial in the long term.”The United Nations Resident Coordinator for the Micronesia Sub-Region (Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Kiribati), Mr. Jaap van Hierden, acknowledged the efforts of the RMI Government, UNCTAD, and the stakeholders in enabling the transformative change.
Following the launch in Majuro, the system will be rolled out in Ebeye in September 2024.RMI became the 15th Pacific nation to deploy ASYCUDA and to automate its customs processes, successfully concluding one of the key goals of the IMPACT project: to standardize and simplify customs operations in the region. About ASYCUDAWorld: ASYCUDAWorld is a cutting-edge customs management system by UN Trade and Development aimed at simplifying trade and customs processes.About the IMPACT Project: Funded by the European Union, the IMPACT project seeks to enhance customs operations through technological advancements and capacity building.
Source: https://pacific.asycuda.org/
Nauru's Validation Workshop on its First Foreign Investment Regime Paves a New Strategic Direction for Policymakers
13 August 2024 - EU's Head of Mission of the EU Delegation for the Pacific, Ambassador Barbara Plinkert, delivered the keynote address at the workshop during her official visit to Nauru this week to present her credentials to the Government of Nauru.
Nauru's Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Development, Ms. Novena Itsimaera, officiated at the opening ceremony, which witnessed high representation from the government, private sector, and other key stakeholders.
The workshop was chaired by Nauru's Foreign Investment Adviser, Mr. Laben Taldon, with consultants from Ernst and Young spearheading the discussions, with a high level of engagement from the participants.
The PIFS-SPIRIT Team Leader, Ms. Setaita Tupua, delivered the closing remarks, marking the successful conclusion of the workshop. This activity paves the pathway to identifying the immediate trade and investment-related policy gaps that need to be addressed and aimed at heralding a new strategic direction for Nauru's sustainable development objectives and implementation.
Ambassador Plinkert meets with Nauru's Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Development, Ms. Novena Itsimaera (far right) and Nauru's Foreign Investment Adviser, Mr. Laben Taldon (second from right).
Your PRISE Quarterly Newsletter June 2024 Issue is Here!
© 2023 | All Rights Reserved | Created by PIF SPIRIT Project
This website is funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.