Final Evaluation Confirms Success of the Niue-Solomon Islands Labour Mobility Pilot
Alofi, NIUE – PACER Plus, in collaboration with the Government of Niue, hosted the final evaluation of the Niue-Solomon Islands Labour Mobility Pilot from 1-4 July 2025 in Niue. The ground-breaking labour mobility pilot between Niue and Solomon Islands has been deemed a success, following a comprehensive final evaluation that highlights the initiative’s strong outcomes for both countries. The Niue–Solomon Islands Intra-Pacific Labour Mobility Pilot, launched under the PACER Plus Arrangement on Labour Mobility (ALM) in July 2024, has provided a unique and valuable opportunity for four retired Solomon Islands nationals to address critical labour shortages in Niue’s aged care sector. The final evaluation confirmed that the pilot met its core objectives of facilitating the movement of Pacific labour within Pacific countries to deliver mutual benefits to both labour sending and labour receiving countries. The Niue-Solomon Islands Intra-Pacific Labour Mobility Pilot has provided a valuable opportunity for four retired Solomon Islands nationals to address critical labour shortages in Niue’s aged care sector. The evaluation found that Niue benefited from increased workforce capacity and improved aged care services while the retired nurses from Solomon Islands gained an income-generating opportunity they otherwise would not have had. Both governments demonstrated strong collaboration, which set a precedent for future intra-Pacific labour arrangements. The final evaluation also identified lessons for future intra-Pacific initiatives, including the need for streamlined recruitment processes, tailored pre-departure training, and continued worker welfare support. Niue’s Minister for Finance and Infrastructure, Hon. Crossley Tatui, welcomed the results. “This pilot has demonstrated that Pacific Island countries can work together to solve shared challenges. We are proud to have hosted workers from Solomon Islands and are already seeing the positive impacts in our aged care sector.” Hon. Crossley Tatui, Niue’s Minister for Finance and Infrastructure, Solomon Islands’ Deputy Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Mr. Hickson George, echoed the sentiment: “This has been an important opportunity for our workers to gain employment in their retirement years and support their families at home. We look forward to expanding such partnerships under the PACER Plus framework.” The success of the pilot has generated interest in scaling up intra-Pacific labour mobility in critical sectors while ensuring that development benefits are shared across the region. PACER Plus will use the evaluation findings to inform the development of Niue’s Labour Mobility Strategy and provide broader regional policy and develop practical guidance for Parties seeking to initiate similar pilot schemes. -ENDS- More articles like this one
Six Niuean entrepreneurs receive boost for e-commerce growth
ALOFI, Niue – The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), in partnership with the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU), is pleased to announce the selection of six Niuean small businesses to receive e-commerce coaching and grant support valued at a total of AU$45,000. The program’s official launch was marked by a virtual kickoff meeting on 3 July 2025 (Niue time), kicking off Phase 2 of the PIFS E-Biz Plus Program in Niue. PIFS Director of Programmes and Initiatives, Mr Zarak Khan highlighted, “This phase builds on last year’s foundation, where we equipped businesses with essential e-commerce tools and training. We’re now investing in six promising Niuean entrepreneurs to help accelerate their growth online, supporting the vision of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the Pacific Regional E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap.” Niue Vanilla International, a privately owned Niuean family business, is one of six businesses to receive e-commerce coaching and grant support. One of the selected businesses is Niue Organic Farmers Associations (NIOFA). “At NIOFA, we’re passionate about organic farming and sharing sustainable practices with our community, especially the next generation. Our goal is to educate, inspire, and open pathways to overseas markets through storytelling and digital outreach.” Jamal Talagi, Head of NIOFA said, “We’re truly grateful for this opportunity, which will help us strengthen our message, grow our visibility, and promote Niue’s unique values to the world.” Apart from NIOFA, the selected businesses represent a diverse and dynamic cross-section of Niue’s economy: Niue Vanilla International – A small family business producing quality Niue vanilla, and seeking to expand reach and improve access for overseas customers through website upgrade and establishing a mirror site, to help with overseas payments and better promote Niue. Mrs Sena’s Crafts – A creator of authentic Niuean handicrafts like hats, earrings and mats. Through the program, the business plans to rebrand to build a legacy, on that shares the story of their journey. Additionally, the businesses seek to obtain strategic marketing support capitalising on its social media presence. Ebony Carvings – A maker of handcrafted wood jewellery and artistic carvings, with a goal to grow the business and expand its reach in the handicraft sector through its social media platforms. Lupe Niue – Lupe Niue is planning to launch an online store to make products like banana chips more accessible and boost direct sales to customers. Bohnz Infotech – An emerging provider of electronics and IT services, planning to formally its services, through establishing a retail outlet and online platforms, and implementing strategic marketing strategies. PPIU provided AU$100,000 to support Phase 2 of the PIFS E-Biz Plus program, involving e-commerce coaching and grant scheme in Niue. This project builds on previous joint efforts between PPIU and PIFS to support Pacific businesses in the digital economy, following the successful rollout of Phase 1 of the PIFS E-Biz Plus program in Vanuatu, Tonga, and Niue in 2024, involving the development of e-commerce business toolkits and training workshops. “At the heart of PACER Plus is a commitment to inclusive economic growth across the Pacific,” said Dr. Alisi Holani, Trade in Services and Investment Adviser and Labour Mobility Specialist. “We’re proud to support Niue’s small businesses in embracing digital tools that allow them to compete beyond their shores, reduce trade costs, and improve profitability.” PACER Plus, a unique regional trade agreement between Niue, seven Pacific Island countries, Australia, and New Zealand, was designed to drive economic growth and improve the livelihoods of Pacific peoples. For Niue, PACER Plus represents access to a broader market, targeted development assistance, and a platform for economic resilience in an increasingly connected world. Through this next phase of the PIFS E-Biz Plus, these six MSMEs will receive personalised coaching and financial assistance to help them grow their businesses and tap into new opportunities in the digital economy. -ENDS- More articles like this one
Golden Success: How PACER Plus Helped Niue Honey Thrive
Niue Honey, recently named Best International Honey at the United Kingdom’s 85th National Honey Show—dubbed the Oscars of world honey—is not just any honey. It’s certified organic, unpasteurised, and boasts a complex palate of caramel and malt. But behind its success lies a story of resilience, innovation, and international collaboration that goes beyond taste. At the core of Niue Honey’s triumph is its unique origin: Niue is home to the world’s last known significant population of Italian honeybees, completely free from diseases and parasites that plague bee colonies elsewhere. These bees, Apis mellifera ligustica, are responsible for most global pollination, and their isolation on Niue has preserved their purity, making them a key asset in global efforts to safeguard bee populations. Niue Honey was recently named Best International Honey at the United Kingdom’s National Honey Show. However, it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Like many businesses across the Pacific, Niue Honey Company faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of their biggest hurdles was securing their signature honey bottles, which had to be imported from China. With global supply chains disrupted, the company was at a standstill. “We asked ourselves, ‘How can we present a world-class innovative product in a world-class innovative way?’ recalled Richard Duncan of Niue Honey Company. “Our unique bottles set us apart, but when the supply from China stopped due to the lockdown, we were left scrambling for solutions. That’s when PACER Plus stepped in.” PACER Plus provided timely assistance. Through its DEC Work Programme, PACER Plus helped Niue Honey secure the designs and models necessary to produce their bottles closer to home. This collaboration not only salvaged the company’s ability to package their honey but also helped them establish a new bottle manufacturer in New Zealand. “PACER Plus really came through for us. They helped us get our bottles made in time, allowing Niue Honey to re-engage with the market. Now we have a New Zealand-based manufacturer producing our bottles, which has been a game-changer,” said Duncan. With their packaging challenges resolved, Niue Honey quickly regained momentum in the gourmet honey market. In New Zealand, their product was already well-established, but 2024 saw their expansion into Australia, where Niue Honey is now available at Whole Foods Australia (link here). Niue Honey also has plans to enter the United Kingdom by early 2025. “We’re working through the final paperwork to access the UK market,” Duncan shared. “When we do, this will be the first time an agricultural product from Niue reaches the UK. It’s exciting, as our honey tells a story—not just about our bees but about Niue and the wider Pacific.” Niue Honey is much more than a luxury product; it represents a significant contribution to agriculture and food security. Beyond honey production, the company also exports pure, healthy queen bees to help repopulate bee colonies worldwide. “Our bees are liquid gold,” Duncan said proudly. “We have the opportunity to breed and export queens to other Pacific islands, supporting food security and agricultural productivity across the region.” Award-winning New Zealand chef Peter Gordon has partnered with the Niue Honey Company, using it in a number of his dishes. This sense of purpose extends beyond Niue. As Duncan explained, the company envisions creating livelihood opportunities across the Pacific by reintroducing beekeeping on other islands. “Rebooting beekeeping as a livelihood generator, but more importantly, as a way to increase agricultural productivity—that’s a game-changer for agriculture in the region.” Award-winning New Zealand chef Peter Gordon, a champion of Niue Honey, stumbled upon the company’s product during a visit to the island. Known as the “godfather of fusion cuisine,” Chef Gordon has since used Niue Honey in various dishes and partnered with the company to help protect Niue’s unique bees through the Pacific Bee Sanctuary initiative. With PACER Plus’s support, Niue Honey is more than just a success story; it’s a testament to the power of regional cooperation and resilience. As Duncan put it, “The success of Niue Honey is not just about us—it’s about the Pacific, our bees, and the future of agriculture in the region.” More articles like this one
Signing of the First Managed Intra-Pacific Labour Mobility Programme
Tamakautoga, Niue – The Inter-Agency Understanding (IAU) which governs the Niue-Solomon Islands Labour Mobility Pilot is being signed today in Tamakautoga, Niue by the governments of Niue and Solomon Islands. The Pilot is the first managed intra-Pacific labour mobility programme for the Pacific and is facilitated through the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus Labour Mobility Secretariat under the framework of the PACER Plus Arrangement on Labour Mobility (ALM). The movement of Pacific workers to find employment in other Pacific countries is not new. For centuries, this has been the practice and in recent history was largely subject to individuals responding to job opportunities advertised or inter-departmental arrangement for Pacific individuals. While such movement has its benefits, there is consensus that managed labour mobility programmes administered through bilateral labour migration agreements can deliver triple wins for the workers, their countries of origin, and the countries of destination that receive them. The Inter-Agency Understanding (IAU) which governs the Niue-Solomon Islands Labour Mobility Pilot is being signed today in Tamakautoga, Niue by the governments of Niue and Solomon Islands. These mutual benefits have prompted the proliferation of labour mobility schemes such as the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) and the New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) schemes. However, there has been limited effort to progress bilateral intra-pacific labour mobility programmes until the Niue-Solomon Islands Labour Mobility Pilot signed today in Tamakautoga, Niue. Niue was formally recognised as a labour receiving country during the 2022 Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting (PLMAM), where they registered their interest to receive labour from other Pacific countries to meet acute labour shortages in the country. A scoping study by the PACER Plus Implementation Unit in early 2023 identified the health sector as priority and recommended a short-term pilot programme to trial intra-Pacific labour mobility and to later inform the design of a more sustainable longer term labour mobility scheme for the country. In November 2023, the Niuean government endorsed the proposal for a pilot programme for the health sector and the PACER Plus Implementation Unit then worked with the governments of Niue and Solomon Islands to develop an Inter-Agency Understanding (IAU) that would deliver mutual benefits to both governments particularly the Solomon Island workers and the Niue Health Sector which will employ them. The Pilot covers four Solomon Island nurses who will work in the Niue health sector for six months commencing from August 2024. The Permanent Secretary for the Solomon Island Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET), Mr. Colin Beck said: “Solomon Islands economic growth is not keeping up with its fast-growing population; more than 20,000 youths annually look for jobs. The narrow economic base of the country is unable to generate sufficient employment for all. There is also a large number of nurses graduating out of Solomon Islands national institutions each year. The retirement age in Solomon Islands is 55 years, thus we have experienced retired nurses available for job opportunities in overseas market. The Niue-Solomon Islands Labour Mobility Pilot puts a human face to the two nation’s relations and presents a new beginning in strengthening of people-centered relations that can grow and diversify to other sectors. Solomon Islands has a deep work ready pool we can draw on.” Secretary of the Government of Niue, Ms Peleni Talagi, (left) shakes hands with the Permanent Secretary of Solomon Islands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Mr. Collin Beck, during the signing of the Inter-Agency Understanding in Tamakautoga, Niue. As requested by the Niuean government, the Pilot will target retired Solomon Island nurses below the Niuean retirement age of 60 due to their vast experience. The nurses will predominantly work in the Niuean aged care unit but will also serve as general nurses in the main hospital in Alofi. For Niue, acute labour shortages exists as a critical development constraint across all sectors. Honourable Crossley Tatui, Minister for Infrastructure and Finance in Niue said: “The Niuean population experienced a dramatic decline in the 1970s and has remained relatively stagnant at around 1600 in the past 20 years. The working aged population has seen a consistent decrease over the last decades while the retired aged group has consistently increased, with about 20 percent of the population above retirement age. Labour shortage is therefore a very real problem for Niue and labour mobility provides the only viable solution to addressing this development constraint.” The Minister further highlighted that labour shortage exists throughout key economic sectors and there is great interest to expand the intra-pacific labour mobility programme to other sectors based on the learnings from this initial pilot in the health sector. The PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) recognises the importance of intra-Pacific labour mobility to delivering mutual wins for PACER Plus Parties by creating employment for labour sending countries with surplus labour supply whilst alleviating labour shortages that constrain sustainable development in Pacific labour receiving countries like Niue. The PPIU extends its gratitude to the Niue National Labour Mobility Steering Committee and the Solomon Islands Labour Mobility Unit for the collaborative efforts to make this Arrangement the first of its kind in the Pacific. It is committed to working closely with the goverments of Niue and Solomon Islands to monitor the Pilot and to ensure that mutual benefits for both countries are sustained. -ENDS- More articles like this one
PACER Plus: Enhancing Trade Facilitation in the Region
ALOFI, Niue – The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus continues to advance its objective of facilitating trade and investment among its 10 member countries. A critical component of this effort is the integration of customs and postal operation systems, a goal furthered by the recent feasibility study on the interface between the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) ASYCUDA World Systems for Customs and the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Customs Declaration System (CDS) for postal operation in Niue. Currently, the lack of integration between customs and postal systems causes delays and inefficiencies in the processing and clearance of international shipments. These challenges hinder the speed and cost-effectiveness of doing business online, affecting both businesses and consumers in the PACER Plus countries. Niue’s Minister for Finance and Infrastructure, Hon. Crossley Tatui (front row, fifth from right) with the Australian High Commissioner to Niue, H.E. Katy Stuart (front row, fourth from right), the New Zealand High Commissioner to Niue, H.E. Mark Gibb (front row, sixth from right), and Niue’s public and private stakeholders. The UPU CDS is a software application designed to enable the exchange of messages between customs and designated operators, allowing customs formalities to be completed before the arrival of postal items. By facilitating electronic data exchange between customs and postal authorities, the interface significantly streamlines the customs clearance process for e-commerce shipments. This advancement reduces the time and cost of doing business online for both businesses and consumers within PACER Plus member countries thus restoring confidence in the use of postal services for sending and receiving goods, especially e-commerce items. The UNCTAD ASYCUDA World system, widely used for customs management, and the UPU CDS, a standard for postal operations, are anticipated to yield significant benefits when integrated. These benefits include enhanced efficiency, transparency, and speed of cross-border trade in the region. Hon. Crossley Tatui, Niue’s Minister for Finance and Infrastructure, expressed his support for the initiative: “The successful integration of customs and postal systems through the PACER Plus agreement marks a significant step forward in facilitating trade and investment in our region. This initiative not only streamlines processes but also enhances transparency and efficiency, ultimately benefiting our businesses and consumers. We are excited to see the positive impact this will have on Niue.” Mr. Roy Lagolago, Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit, highlighted the pioneering nature of this initiative: “The rollout of this interface across the Pacific will make our region the first in the world to adopt such a harmonised system. This achievement is testament to the commitment of PACER Plus to leveraging technology to drive economic growth and improve trade facilitation for all PACER Plus members.” -ENDS- More articles like this one
PACER Plus to support sustainable economic development for Niue
ALOFI, Niue – The regional governance meeting for the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus) will be held in Alofi, Niue on 30 May – 1 June 2023. The PACER Plus Agreement is a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) between the Pacific Island Countries and Australia and New Zealand, covering trade in goods, trade in services, investment, and a side-arrangement on labour mobility. The Agreement was signed in 2017 and entered into force in December 2020. Niue is one of eight Pacific countries that have ratified the Agreement. Other Pacific Parties are the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. PACER Plus is a unique FTA in the sense that its central focus is to support regional development and assist Pacific Parties to participate more actively in, and benefit from, international trade. The Agreement is in fact one of few FTAs to have a Development and Economic Cooperation Work Programme which provides development assistance to Pacific Parties to strengthen their capacity to benefit from regional and international trade. Premier of Niue, Hon Dalton Tagelagi (second from left), with the PACER Plus Implementation Unit team. Niue will host the first in-person PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting from 30 May to 1 June. Mr. Frank Sioneholo, the Economics and Planning Director and the PACER Plus national focal point for Niue, said: “For Niue, international trade and economic integration is fundamental to overcoming the challenges inherent to our smallness and remoteness from key markets. PACER Plus provides a framework for increased regional economic integration and at the same time provides assistance needed to enable us to benefit from trade.” In an interview with one of the advisers from the PACER Plus Implementation Unit, Dr. Alisi Kautoke Holani, she stated: “Increasing the benefits of PACER Plus for Niue requires targeted support for areas where Niue has comparative advantage.” She added: “From Niue’s GDP data over the past years, the services sector is clearly the major contributor to economic growth and tourism is shown to have the greatest economic potential. The PACER Plus Agreement can play a critical role in the development of your services sector as it is the only Pacific FTA in force with details commitments on trade in services and can therefore support the creation of an enabling environment that can increase foreign direct investment, economy-wide productivity, connectivity, and competitiveness of other exports including agricultural products such as your vanilla and honey.” She also highlighted that the transition and rapid advancement in the digital economy and digital trade provides many opportunities for small and remote island countries such as Niue. “Services are central to digital trade, and we are now seeing that a broad range of services can now be supplied online, which presents significant opportunities for our small and remote island countries. This was particularly evident during COVID-19. The PACER Plus Agreement can facilitate the provision of enabling policies and strategies for digital supply and e-commerce,” said Dr Holani. The PACER Plus Agreement also covers trade in goods and seeks to increase merchandise trade between Parties. This is achieved through improved customs procedures, improved rules of origin, use of Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) measures to protect plant, animal and human life and health. This allows for the increase trade, address barriers to trade that may arise from technical regulations, standards, and conformity assessment procedures (TBT). These provisions provide opportunities to increase Niue’s agricultural and fisheries exports and support Niuean businesses to take advantage of duty-free access to not only Australia and New Zealand but also the other eight Pacific Parties. Labour shortages are also a recognised development constraint that cuts across all sectors in Niue. Dr. Holani further stated that this is another area where the PACER Plus can provide benefits to Niue. “The PACER Plus Arrangement on Labour Mobility provides a framework to facilitate labour mobility from other Pacific PACER Plus Parties to address labour shortages in Participant labour receiving countries such as Niue,” she said. Over the past week, the PACER Plus Implementation Unit, together with the Australian National University, were in Niue upon the request of the Niuean government, to conduct stakeholder consultations to later inform the development of a strategy to facilitate the movement of workers from other Pacific PACER Plus Parties to meet labour shortages in key sectors. “The scoping visit was a success, and we are looking at ways where we can address immediate labour shortages in critical service sectors such as health, while at the same time consider a strategy that can sustainably address labour shortages in Niue in a manner that meets required labour standards and ensures the protection of workers coming in,” said Dr. Holani. The PACER Plus Implementation Unit, based in Samoa, is a regional organisation established to administer the Agreement’s Development and Economic Cooperation Work Programme and support Parties in the implementation of the Agreement. -END- More articles like this one
Bridging the Gender Gap in Agriculture
How Electronic Phytosanitary is Empowering Women in the Pacific The electronic phytosanitary certification system, also known as ePhyto, is a technological innovation that is making a significant contribution to gender equality in trade. This digital platform facilitates the certification of plant and food products by eliminating physical paperwork, reducing processing time, and enabling real-time tracking of certification status. One of the critical ways in which ePhyto supports gender equality is by enabling women to participate more fully in international trade. In many countries, women are traditionally excluded from trade-related activities due to cultural and social barriers. However, ePhyto has made it easier for Pacific women to access and participate in the export market by simplifying the certification process and making it more accessible. ePhyto removes the need for Pacific women to travel to and attend to government offices to complete phytosanitary paperwork each time they export/import. This system reduces time burdens, eliminates need to travel, and allows for online activities to be done at a time convenient to women. This system substantially supports Pacific women in engaging fully in trade. The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus) has been a crucial driver of ePhyto’s implementation in the Pacific region. PACER Plus is a unique trade agreement that aims to promote sustainable economic development in the Pacific by improving access to international markets. By supporting the adoption of ePhyto, PACER Plus is assisting member parties to increase their competitiveness in international trade while also promoting gender equality. Since September 2022, PACER Plus Implementation Unit provided training to a total of 123 biosecurity officials and exporters from seven member parties: Cook Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu. However, plans to involve stakeholders in Vanuatu, the latest Pacific country to ratify the agreement, have been delayed due to Cyclone Judy and Cyclone Kevin that hit the country this month. Out of all the participants who received training, 42 per cent are women. May Schaaf Vi, Manager Operations for Hihifo Foods, attended the PACER Plus ePhyto Training in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. “In my past experiences, the manual phyto certification generally takes a day or two to process. With ePhyto, processing the certificates will almost be instant which would assist us greatly in exporting and importing goods,” said Ms. Vi. ePhyto is a technological innovation that is having a significant impact on promoting gender equality in the Pacific. By simplifying the certification process and eliminating gender-based barriers to trade, ePhyto is enabling more Pacific women to participate in international trade and access new economic opportunities. More articles like this one
PACER Plus releases four-year Strategic Plan
The PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) today released its inaugural Strategic Plan 2022-2025 which provides the public with the PPIU’s overarching mission and activities. The Strategic Plan was endorsed by the PACER Plus Joint Committee which consists of representatives of the PACER Plus parties. The Strategic Plan was developed on the substantial work undertaken by PACER Plus parties in accordance with PPIU’s foundation documents. Kiribati, which chaired the Joint Committee meeting held virtually on Wednesday 22 June, encouraged the parties to take a collective response in identifying opportunities that will bring significant and sustainable benefits as the region grapples with the ongoing impact of climate change, non-communicable diseases, and COVID-19. “PACER Plus provides us with a unique opportunity and forum to respond collectively. It is also an opportunity to do things differently and to leverage our collective knowledge and expertise to achieve our shared vision of improving the livelihood and welfare of our people,” said Hon Bootii Nauan, Kiribati’s Minister of Commerce, Industry and Cooperative. Roy Lagolago, Head of the PPIU, supported Mr Nauan’s sentiments adding that PPIU will implement the Development and Economic Cooperation Work Programme to achieve the Agreement’s vision. “By delivering the implementation activities as mutually prioritised and determined by the parties, the PPIU will remain directed and clear in our mission and intent to ensure that everyone will benefit from the PACER Plus Agreement,” said Mr Lagolago. Solomon Islands Trade Commissioner Barrett Salato said: “To achieve meaningful benefits from PACER Plus Agreement would require full and effective implementation of the Development and Economic Work Programme. The Strategic Plan 2022-2025 sets the pathway for the full realization of those benefits.” PACER Plus is a regional development-centered trade and investment agreement aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. The Agreement is designed to support Pacific Island countries to stimulate economic growth by becoming more active partners in, and benefit from, regional and global trade. Nine countries are currently parties to the Agreement: Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu. This was Tuvalu’s first Joint Committee meeting since ratifying the PACER Plus Agreement in January 2022. “Through PACER Plus, Tuvalu foresees accessing new labour markets in other countries, expanding of our labour seasonal worker scheme, local product mapping, value adding and potential exporting, including necessary storage facilities, equipment and labs for processing and testing of local product prior exportation,” said Loloma Homasi, Assistant Secretary to Tuvalu’s Ministry of Fisheries and Trade. Vanuatu’s parliament recently voted in favour for the ratification of the Bill for the PACER Plus Agreement which will make Vanuatu the 10th country to endorse PACER Plus. Vanuatu’s Department of External Trade director, Joe Pakoa Lui, was present at the PACER Plus Joint Committee meeting. “We’re excited to join the PACER Plus family and to collaborate with the PPIU and the parties to implement activities in Vanuatu that would benefit our people and our communities,” said Mr Lui. “PACER Plus marks an exciting new era for Pacific cooperation in trade and investment which Vanuatu is looking forward to participate in.” To view the PPIU Strategic Plan 2022-2025, please visit pacerplus.org/resources or click on the link below. PACER-Plus-Implementation-Unit-Strategic-Plan-2022-2025 -ENDS- Caption: The PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting, which consists of representatives of the PACER Plus parties, was held virtually on Wednesday, 22 June 2022. More articles like this one
PPIU partners with SPTO to strengthen capacity building
The Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) and Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus Implementation Unit or the PPIU have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster a collaborative partnership that will benefit both organizations and their stakeholders. With its extensive knowledge and experience centred in trade and investment aligning itself to the Sustainable Development Goals, PPIU supports Pacific Island countries to implement activities under the PACER Plus Agreement, stimulating economic growth and sustainable development in the Pacific. Both regional organisations SPTO and PACER Plus will benefit from knowledge sharing and best partnership experiences under the MoU. A key objective of this partnership is that PACER Plus Implementation Unit and SPTO will collaborate to advocate and respond to issues and opportunities that support the development and sustainable growth of the tourism industry in the Pacific. The PACER Plus Implementation Unit will manage and deliver the Development and Economic Cooperation Work Programme that will support Pacific PACER Plus members to strengthen their capacity to benefit from regional trade, economic growth, and sustainable development. Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit Mr. Roy Lagolago commended the MoU with SPTO, adding this was an important step in a partnership agreement between two major regional organisations in a time when collaboration and sharing of knowledge was more important than ever. Similarly, SPTO Chief Executive, Mr. Christopher Cocker, emphasized the importance of building partnerships to effectively address common challenges. “We are very excited to work with the PACER Plus Implementation Unit to develop a partnership framework, bringing together our resources and experiences for the benefit of our respective member countries. “To partner and collaborate with an established regional body like the PPIU is crucial particularly when working towards recovery in the tourism industry post the global pandemic. A collaboration with like-minded partners is critical for SPTO and our member countries to drive tourism’s recovery and ensure resilience in the long run”, said Mr. Cocker. -END- Caption: The partnership will respond to issues that support the growth of the tourism industry in the Pacific. (Photo: Samoa Tourism). More articles like this one