Forum Trade Ministers to meet in Samoa
PRESS STATEMENT (33/09)
4TH JUNE 2009
FORUM TRADE MINISTERS TO CONSIDER REGIONAL TRADE ISSUES AT SAMOA MEETING
Forum Trade Ministers will meet in Apia, Samoa, on 17-18 June to consider a wide range of regional trade and related initiatives.
Developments in relation to the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) will feature prominently in the discussions. This includes the current and possible future operations of the Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP) under PACER and the deepening of trade and economic cooperation among all Forum Members, a process generally referred to as PACER Plus.
In response to a directive from Forum Leaders made at their meeting in Niue last year, it is expected that Forum Trade Ministers will consider proposals from Forum officials relating to a road map to guide PACER Plus negotiations between Forum members. They will also consider the establishment of an Office of the Chief Trade Advisor to assist Forum Island Countries (FICs) in those negotiations. Ministers are expected to make recommendations for consideration by Forum leaders when they meet in Cairns in August.
“Forum leaders wish to move the PACER Plus process forward and Ministers and officials have been working hard since the 2008 Leaders’ meeting to present positive recommendations in that regard for Leaders to consider when they next meet in Cairns,” says Tuiloma Neroni Slade, Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat.
Ministers will also consider a number of other issues, including an update on trade capacity-building assistance to FICs and the establishment of a Trade and Development Facility to channel development assistance to FICs to promote trade-related activities in a cost effective, efficient manner.
Developments relating to the establishment of a regional trademarks systems and broader intellectual property issues will also be discussed at the meeting. Ministers will also consider the continued support for the Forum World Trade Organisation (WTO) Office in Geneva.
The meeting of Forum Trade officials will be held in Apia on 11-12 June to prepare for the Forum Trade Ministers Meeting.
ENDS.
For more information, contact Mr Shiu Raj, Acting Director, Economic Governance, on phone (679) 331-2600 and e-mail shiur@forumsec.org.fj
4TH JUNE 2009
FORUM TRADE MINISTERS TO CONSIDER REGIONAL TRADE ISSUES AT SAMOA MEETING
Forum Trade Ministers will meet in Apia, Samoa, on 17-18 June to consider a wide range of regional trade and related initiatives.
Developments in relation to the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) will feature prominently in the discussions. This includes the current and possible future operations of the Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP) under PACER and the deepening of trade and economic cooperation among all Forum Members, a process generally referred to as PACER Plus.
In response to a directive from Forum Leaders made at their meeting in Niue last year, it is expected that Forum Trade Ministers will consider proposals from Forum officials relating to a road map to guide PACER Plus negotiations between Forum members. They will also consider the establishment of an Office of the Chief Trade Advisor to assist Forum Island Countries (FICs) in those negotiations. Ministers are expected to make recommendations for consideration by Forum leaders when they meet in Cairns in August.
“Forum leaders wish to move the PACER Plus process forward and Ministers and officials have been working hard since the 2008 Leaders’ meeting to present positive recommendations in that regard for Leaders to consider when they next meet in Cairns,” says Tuiloma Neroni Slade, Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat.
Ministers will also consider a number of other issues, including an update on trade capacity-building assistance to FICs and the establishment of a Trade and Development Facility to channel development assistance to FICs to promote trade-related activities in a cost effective, efficient manner.
Developments relating to the establishment of a regional trademarks systems and broader intellectual property issues will also be discussed at the meeting. Ministers will also consider the continued support for the Forum World Trade Organisation (WTO) Office in Geneva.
The meeting of Forum Trade officials will be held in Apia on 11-12 June to prepare for the Forum Trade Ministers Meeting.
ENDS.
For more information, contact Mr Shiu Raj, Acting Director, Economic Governance, on phone (679) 331-2600 and e-mail shiur@forumsec.org.fj
