PACER Plus supports Samoan farmers increase exports with harvesting bins
The PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) today handed over 180 harvesting bins to Samoa’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The harvesting bins will assist Samoan farmers by minimizing post-harvest damage and loss of produce harvested for export. Loss and damage of harvested commodities at the farm and during transportation to cleaning and processing facilities is one of the major challenges and prevailing issues for local produce prepared for export. This is mainly due to lack of appropriate containers or bins used to transport produce from farm to processing and cleaning facilities. “We’re here to support Samoa and other PACER Plus parties in minimizing post-harvest damage and loss. This will result in increasing exportable volume of local produce which would support our families and communities as well as stimulate business activity in Samoa,” said Mr. Roy Lagolago, Head of the PPIU. This support is part the PPIU’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary-related technical assistance and capacity building activities to PACER Plus Parties. Samoa’s Associate Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Maiava Fuimaono Tito Asafo expressed his gratitude to PPIU. “Agriculture is a crucial industry in Samoa. We are, therefore, grateful for the commitment from partners such as the PACER Plus Implementation Unit towards the development of the agriculture sector and the support of our farmers,” said Mr. Asafo. 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. -END- Image Caption: Roy Lagolago (left), Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit, hands over 180 harvest bins to Hon. Maiava Fuimaono Tito Asafo, Samoa’s Associate Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries on Monday 25, July 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
Samoa to host PACER Plus Implementation Unit
(Apia) – Samoa’s support for stronger trade and investment in the Pacific region was emphasised in the final steps to establish the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus Implementation Unit in Apia, as The Honourable Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, has signed the Host Agreement with the Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit, Mr Roy Lagolago. The Host agreement came into force on the 9th of September. Mrs Peseta Noumea Simi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Mr Lagolago expressed gratitude for the cooperation to date between Samoa officials, PACER Plus parties and the Implementation Unit. “This milestone is a signal of our commitment to improving trade and investment opportunities for the Pacific family and the Implementation Unit will provide the platform for Parties to expand economic opportunities and address trade constraints faced by our island economies,” said Mrs Simi Mr Lagolago shared this view. “During these challenging times, the Parties to PACER Plus recognise the importance of working to secure economic opportunities in our region.” “The Pacific family can use PACER Plus to ease of movement of goods and supplies across borders, and facilitate gains in sustainable development.” This final step in establishing the office of the Implementation Unit in Samoa follows Head of State His Highness Tuimalealiifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II signing an order under the on 21 July making the PACER Plus organisation a legal entity under Samoan law. This partnership underscores Samoa’s support for more profound economic cooperation among Pacific Island Forum member countries. Samoa was also the first Forum Island Country to ratify the PACER Plus, a further signal of Samoa’s continued commitment to regional integration. The office of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit will be located at Tuanaimato, upstairs of the building currently occupied by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The office space is currently under construction and fit-out, and will create a number of jobs in Samoa. END Contacts: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SamoaGovernment of Samoa Press Secretariat Download as PDF document More articles like this one
Lagolago appointed Head of PACER Plus Implementation Unit
Samoan-New Zealand National Roy Lagolago has been appointed Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit. He will take up an initial two and a half year term to guide the implementation of the region’s most comprehensive trade and investment agreement. Mr Lagolago takes up the role as the Pacific region has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Pacific Island Countries are increasingly looking towards regional collaborative approaches to support recovery from the impact that COVID-19 has had on Blue Pacific economies, and to build a more prosperous and resilient future for the Parties. The decision was welcomed by PACER Plus Ministers, via communique on 30 June 2021. “We welcome the appointment of … Mr Roy Lagolago, who has extensive experience in supporting trade facilitation in the Pacific. We look forward to working with him to ensure all PACER Plus members make the most of the Agreement in the pursuit of economic integration and cooperation in the region.” PACER Plus, as a regional development-centred trade and investment agreement, will play a central role in Pacific island countries accessing regional and global trade. Speaking after the Virtual Trade Ministers’ Meeting on 7 July 2021, Mr Lagolago said: “I feel very honoured as a Pacific Islander to have been given the opportunity to serve and guide the implementation of PACER Plus. I look forward to working with the Parties’ governments, Island business communities and investors to maximise opportunities for growth, creating jobs in the Pacific. In a time of many challenges, I hope to create a platform for Forum Island Countries to deepen their relationships further and work together towards greater prosperity for the region.” Mr Lagolago has already begun in his role heading the Implementation Unit. The PACER Plus agreement entered into force on 13 December 2020. Eight countries are currently Parties to the Agreement: Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. Download as PDF document More articles like this one