PRESS RELEASE (92/10)
8 October 2010
The Non-State Actors (NSAs) Dialogue on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus trade negotiations will be held in Honiara, Solomon Islands on 18 October 2010.
The Forum Trade Ministers at their Meeting on 29 April 2010 requested that the Secretariat organise an annual discussion with NSAs on PACER Plus matters in the margins of a forthcoming Forum trade meeting.
“The NSA Dialogue provides an opportunity for Officials involved in PACER Plus discussion to brief NSAs on the content and progress of PACER Plus negotiations. It also provides an opportunity for NSAs to discuss critical issues of interest to their members, and provide views on the goals and objectives of a free trade agreement between Pacific island countries, Australia and New Zealand,” said Tuiloma Neroni Slade, the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
The agenda for this Dialogue has been developed in consultation with the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO) and the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Government Organisations (PIANGO).
Representatives of national and regional NSAs from both the private sector and from non-government organisations who wish to participate in the NSA Dialogue on PACER Plus may contact either PIPSO (Mrs Mereia Volavola at mereiav@pipso.org.fj) or PIANGO (Mrs Emele Duituturaga at emele.duituturaga@gmail.com) to register their interest. Attendance is on a self-funded basis.
The Dialogue will comprise discussions on the objectives set by Leaders and Ministers for the PACER Plus negotiations, including progress to date. NSAs will present their views on PACER Plus priorities to officials via presentations and commentaries.
“It is hoped that the NSA Dialogue on PACER Plus will encourage open discussion of critical issues relating to regional trade integration,” Mr Slade added.
ENDS.
For media enquiries contact Mr Johnson Honimae, the Forum Secretariat’s Public Affairs Officer on phone 679 3312600 or email: johnsonh@forumsec.org.fj
