PACER Plus Joint Committee Charts Strategic Path Forward for Pacific Trade and Development
HONIARA, Solomon Islands – The Eighth Meeting of the PACER Plus Joint Committee concluded on Tuesday 6 May 2025 in Honiara, Solomon Islands, bringing together senior government officials from Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Chaired by Ambassador Collin Beck, Permanent Secretary of the Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, the two-day meeting provided a crucial platform for Parties to review progress, reimagine the future of PACER Plus, and strengthen regional economic integration. Senior government officials from the ten PACER Plus Parties gathered in Honiara, Solomon Islands for the Eighth PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting. Ambassador Beck underscored the significance of PACER Plus in navigating today’s uncertain global trade environment. “PACER Plus was envisioned as a pathway toward deepening economic integration across the Blue Pacific Continent by creating a predictable, rules-based trade environment and unlocking targeted development assistance through the PACER Plus Development and Economic Cooperation (DEC) Work Programme. This meeting was an opportunity to reflect on the past, reimagine the Agreement’s next phase, and ensure it delivers meaningful impact for our people.” Ambassador Collin Beck, Permanent Secretary of the Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade The DEC Work Programme, funded by Australia and New Zealand, is a cornerstone of PACER Plus implementation, designed to support Pacific Island countries in building trade capacity, strengthening industries, and overcoming barriers to economic growth. It provides targeted assistance in areas such as export development, trade facilitation, and skills training, ensuring that Pacific Parties can fully benefit from regional and global trade opportunities. Ms. Natalia Patternot, Director, Department of External Trade with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade in Solomon Islands speaks at the PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting. The meeting approved high-level strategic priorities for the next DEC Work Programme cycle (2025-2030) commencing the work towards confirming arrangements required for continuation of the DEC Work Programme beyond 2025. Discussions emphasised the need for a sharper focus on export development, value chain strengthening, reducing shipping and logistics costs, and targeted skills development. The meeting also highlighted the importance of private sector engagement, digital trade as a key economic driver, and the alignment of strategic priorities with measurable 2030 targets under the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Adaptation (MELA) Framework. Parties reaffirmed PACER Plus as a vital mechanism for regional economic integration, in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Expanding membership remains a key priority, with commitments to advocate for new members to join the Agreement. Mr. Alan Armistead, Director of International and Trade Affairs Division with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Cook Islands speaks at the PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting. Australia and New Zealand provided updates on the current internal governance reviews required to confirm resourcing for the next DEC Work Programme (2025-2030). Ambassador Beck expressed gratitude on behalf of all Parties: “We deeply appreciate the ongoing commitment of Australia and New Zealand to PACER Plus, both through their current funding and their expressed support for the next phase. Their partnership is instrumental in ensuring Pacific nations can harness trade for sustainable development.” The Joint Committee reaffirmed Parties’ commitment to the rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organisation at its core. A joint statement was adopted as follows: “We affirm our commitment to a transparent, non-discriminatory, and open rules-based multilateral trading system which provides certainty and predictability for businesses, builds trust and confidence among consumers, and underpins the growth of international trade and development. In the face of mounting challenges, including disruptions in global supply chains, rising protectionism and climate change, our collective commitment to these principles and the maintenance of trade openness is more crucial than ever,” the statement read. Parties also pledged to uphold a special and differential treatment for Small Island Developing States, ensuring tailored support to safeguard food security, livelihoods, and effective participation in global trade. The outcomes of this meeting will guide the next phase of PACER Plus, ensuring it remains responsive to the needs of the Pacific and delivers tangible benefits for the region. To read the full Eighth PACER Plus Joint Committee Outcome Summary, please click here. -ENDS- More articles like this one
PACER Plus Joint Committee to Convene in Honiara for Critical Talks on Regional Economic Cooperation
HONIARA, Solomon Islands – Senior officials from across the Pacific will gather in Honiara next week for the eighth meeting of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus Joint Committee, set to take place on 5-6 May 2025. The meeting will be chaired by Mr. Collin Beck, Permanent Secretary of the Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, and will bring together representatives from Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The two-day meeting will focus on reviewing progress under the PACER Plus agreement, including updates on the implementation of the 2024-2025 annual work plan. The Samoa-based PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU), led by Mr. Roy Lagolago, will provide a detailed report on ongoing activities supporting the treaty’s objectives, particularly under the Development and Economic Cooperation (DEC) Work Programme and the Arrangement on Labour Mobility. Senior officials from across the Pacific will meet in Honiara, Solomon Islands for the two-day PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting reviewing progress under the PACER Plus agreement, including updates on the implementation of the 2024-2025 annual work plan. Australia and New Zealand have been key partners in supporting PACER Plus, jointly committing AU$25 million in October 2021 to fund the DEC Work Programme, which is managed by the PPIU. This funding, set to conclude in December 2025, has been instrumental in strengthening regional trade integration and addressing the unique development challenges faced by Pacific Island nations. Discussions at the meeting will include the potential extension of the DEC Work Programme to ensure continued progress. “PACER Plus is more than a trade agreement — it’s a commitment to sustainable development and shared prosperity across the Pacific. This meeting is an opportunity to assess our achievements, address challenges, and plan for the future, ensuring that the benefits of regional economic integration reach all our communities.” Roy Lagolago, Head of the PPIU PACER Plus was designed with a strong emphasis on supporting the Pacific Parties’ participation in international trade while addressing their distinct vulnerabilities and capacity constraints. The agreement recognises the critical role of regional cooperation in fostering long-term socio-economic development. The outcomes of the Joint Committee meeting will help shape the next phase of PACER Plus implementation, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of Pacific economic resilience and integration. -ENDS- More articles like this one
Meeting Discusses PACER Plus Benefits and Future
APIA, Samoa – The seventh Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus Joint Committee meeting concluded on Friday, 17 May in Apia, Samoa. Hosted from 16-17 May 2024, this important gathering brought together high-level government officials from the ten PACER Plus parties: Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. This year’s meeting marked the second in-person gathering of the Joint Committee, following the one chaired by Niue in 2023. The seventh PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting brought together high-level government officials from the ten PACER Plus member countries in Apia, Samoa. (Courtesy of Samoa Government) The PACER Plus Joint Committee, which serves as the governing body for the PACER Plus trade agreement, focused on the implementation of the Development and Economic Cooperation (DEC) Work Programme. The DEC Work Programme outlines the AU$25 million assistance from Australia and New Zealand provided to the PACER Plus parties to implement the agreement. It has six components linked to different aspects of the agreement, identifying expected outcomes for each component. The PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting agenda included reviewing reports on the implementation of the chapters of the agreement and the Arrangement on Labour Mobility. Additionally, the meeting adopted the annual plan and budget for the financial year 2024-2025 and discussed the future of the DEC Work Programme post-2025. Mrs. Peseta Noumea Simi, the Chief Executive Officer of Samoa’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, chaired the meeting. In her opening remarks, Mrs. Simi emphasised the importance of evaluating the PACER Plus effectiveness in facilitating trade and the movement of workers within the region. “We must take a deep dive into determining whether the PACER Plus agreement has delivered its anticipated outcomes. Our focus should be on ensuring that our economic cooperation translates into tangible benefits for all member countries,” said Mrs. Simi. Mr. Roy Lagolago, Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU), highlighted the achievements of the past three years despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. “This financial year 2023-2024 is the first full year of implementation, and we have made significant progress in strengthening regional trade and economic cooperation,” Mr. Lagolago stated. The CEO of Samoa’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and chairperson of the seventh PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting, Mrs. Peseta Noumea Simi (left), with the Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit, Mr. Roy Lagolago. Representatives from the PACER Plus parties shared their insights and experiences regarding the impact of the agreement on their respective countries: Mr. Joe Pakoa Lui, Director of External Trade with Vanuatu’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and External Trade: “Vanuatu continues to support PACER Plus as a framework to support Vanuatu in its commitment to regional economic integration. We’ve commenced implementation of our activities under PACER Plus and we’ve seen progress in trade facilitation, particularly with customs and rules of origin.” Ms. Doreen Siataga, Financial Secretary with Niue’s Ministry of Finance and Planning: “Niue has benefited from various activities funded under the PACER Plus agreement and is very grateful for the support provided in meeting country requests. For example, adoption of ASYCUDA World, a customs management system, to strengthen revenue collection, providing harvest bins to local growers to minimise post-harvest damage and exploring intra-regional labour mobility opportunities to address severe labour shortages across all sectors. Niue remains committed to implementing obligations under the agreement as well as national activities approved in the annual plan.” Ms. Koaa Ekeata, Deputy Secretary with Kiribati’s Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry, and Cooperatives: “Kiribati has benefited from the capacity building efforts provided by PACER Plus, especially the trainings on electronic phytosanitary certificates and ASYCUDA World.” The meeting concluded with the announcement that Solomon Islands will host the next PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting in 2025. -END- More articles like this one
PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting Concludes in Niue
ALOFI, Niue – The PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting concluded today, marking a significant milestone for regional cooperation in the Pacific. The three-day meeting brought together officials from the ten countries participating in the PACER Plus, enabling them to meet face-to-face for the first time since entry into force of the Agreement due to the COVID-19 border closures. Government representatives from the 10 PACER Plus parties met in Niue for the 6th PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting. The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus or PACER Plus is a regional trade and development agreement between 10 countries: Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The agreement aims to enhance economic cooperation, expand regional trade, and promote sustainable development across the Pacific. The three-day PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting provided an opportunity for delegates to engage in fruitful talanoa and address issues impacting the implementation of the PACER Plus. The officials deliberated on various topics, including trade in goods, trade in services, investment, labour mobility, and measures to increase the value and long-term impact of the PACER Plus Agreement and Arrangement on Labour Mobility. Some of the key outcomes from the PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting included adoption of the Annual Plan for the Financial Year 2023-2024, endorsement of the General Review process for the Agreement and endorsement of the PACER Plus Monitoring and Evaluation, Learning and Adaptation (MELA) Framework and Gender Equality and Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Strategy. Delegate at the PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting in Niue. Ms. Doreen Siataga, the Niue Secretary for Finance and Chair of the 6th PACER Plus Joint Committee meeting, highlighted the significance of the event. She stated, “Niue is pleased to have hosted the PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting, a gathering that signifies the unwavering commitment of the region towards economic growth and sustainable development for our communities.” -END- 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
PACER Plus two years on
This month marks the second anniversary of when the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus) entered into force. PACER Plus is a regional development-centered trade agreement designed to support Pacific Island countries to become more active partners in, and benefit from, regional and global trade. Ten Pacific Island Forum countries ratified and have been party to the agreement since its entry into force on 13 December 2020: Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU), which manages and delivers the work programme, was established in Apia, Samoa last year. PPIU works with Pacific parties to implement activities under PACER Plus. The agreement provides members with a framework to sustainably grow their trade in services and expand participation in key service sectors such as tourism. Sustainable tourism development is a key driver of economic recovery in the Pacific with PACER Plus enabling more transparent and predictable operation conditions for domestic and foreign service providers. With the reopening of Tonga’s international borders, PPIU supported the Tongan tourism industry with training programs on customer service, communications, COVID-19 protocols, and other priority themes identified through a training needs analysis. “The impact of the pandemic on the Tongan tourism industry has been severe but we were pleased that PACER Plus provided the much-needed training to prepare our tourism industry as we welcome the world back to Tonga,” said Ms Lorraine Kauhenga, Deputy CEO at Tonga Ministry of Trade and Economic Development. PPIU was also pleased to support Solomon Islands and Samoa with the ePhyto Capacity Building Workshop attended by exporters and industry stakeholders. The electronic phytosanitary certificate, otherwise known as ePhyto, is a tool that transitions paper phytosanitary certificate information into a digital phytosanitary certificate. This electronic exchange between countries makes trade safer, faster, and cheaper. “ePhyto promotes opportunities to improve bilateral trade in the region and other parts of the world. It will advance trade efficiency by reducing costs associated with bilateral negotiations and reduce fraudulent certificates. The ePhyto system will improve trade thereby improving incomes, creating more employment opportunities, and thereby enhancing economic development,” said Hon. La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt, Samoa’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. This year, Samoa hosted the sixth Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting (PLMAM) where more than 150 delegates from government, private sector, international agencies, and stakeholders in the Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, and Timor Leste to discuss labour mobility priorities in the region. “The PLMAM is a significant medium by which we are advancing inclusive regional labour mobility cooperation in the Pacific. This meeting’s theme of ‘Reinvigorating labour mobility cooperation for development’ reiterates the opportunity for all labour mobility stakeholders to re-engage, reset and re-commit to advancing an effective level of cooperation that can enhance mutually beneficial development gains,” said Hon. Leatinu’u Wayne So’oialo, Samoa’s Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Labour. Moving forward, PPIU will focus on exports and broader trade facilitation in the agricultural sector, recovery of the tourism industry, improving cooperation under labour mobility, and implementing activities that focus on enabling PACER Plus parties to meet requirements of importing countries, implementing systems that make trade easier, and promoting export products while establishing business connections across the PACER Plus network. 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