JOINT PRESS STATEMENT 95/07
Tuesday, 07 August 2007

“North Meets South Mission” kicks off at regional business forum

Delegates of the first North Meets South Mission have kicked off their programme by attending the Pacific Islands Business Forum 2007. 

PIBF 2007 is currently being held at the Radisson Fiji Resort Denarau Island (6th-7th August), and convened by the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO), with support from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Centre. 

The theme of the PIBF 2007 is ‘Pacific Businesses – At the Threshold of Regional and Global Competition’. 

The North Meets South Mission seeks to encourage, develop and strengthen trade capabilities between the Private enterprises in the Northern and Southern Pacific. 

It is an initiative being undertaken by the Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission (PITIC) Auckland, together with the Private Sector Development Unit at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. 

Forum Deputy Secretary General, Mr Peter Forau, explains that the need for a mission to bridge the trade gap and business relationships between the North and South Pacific resulted from a handicraft scoping visit undertaken by the Forum Secretariat and PITIC Auckland in September, 2006. 

“This pilot mission is an important step towards making on-the-ground connections between private sector stakeholders from across the Pacific,” says Mr Forau. “I would like to welcome delegates and wish them the very best with their 10-day programme.” 

The North meets South Mission will meet with potential suppliers and buyers as well as seek business opportunities in Fiji and New Zealand. 

The following applicants have been selected to participate in the North meets South Mission: 

1. KASSI BERG
Vice President
Roll’em Productions
Palau 

2. FRANCIS C DOMNICK
Chief Executive Officer
Anil Development Inc.
Republic of the Marshall Islands 

3. LUCIA GUAVIS
Owner
Elefa Handicraft Shop
Federated States of Micronesia 

4. MYRON HASHIGUCHI
President / CEO
Shigeto’s Store
Federated States of Micronesia 

5. SEBASTIAN TAMAN MANQAFIR
Waab Transportation Company
Federated States of Micronesia 

(Ends)

For more information, or follow-up interviews, please contact the Forum Secretariat’s Media Officer, Pacific Plan, Mue Bentley via (679) 9998677 or email