[Suva – June 22, 2012] Entrepreneurs from around the Pacific have started arriving in Nadi in preparation for the Trade Pasifika 2012 which starts from Monday June 25 at the Sheraton in Denarau. The inaugural regional trade expo will showcase more than 50 entrepreneurs from across the Pacific who will have on display a range of products and services.
 

Some of the products on display include pearls, honey, coconut furniture and footwear from Fiji, vanilla from Niue, exquisite handicraft from the Marshall Islands, salt from Christmas Islands in Kiribati, coffee and cocoa from Papua New Guinea, coconut and candle nut soaps, virgin coconut oil from Solomon Islands, breadfruit, cassava and taro chips from Samoa, Noni Juice, candle nut oil, chili paste, and taro chips from Tonga, coffee and banana chips from Vanuatu.
 

Trade Pasifika 2012 is sponsored by ANZ, and has received support from Williams and Goslings, Air Pacific, Air Terminal Service, Fiji TV as well as the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The event has been organized by the Pacific Island Private Sector organization (PIPSO) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Centre, Secretariat of the Pacific community (SPC), AusAID’s Pacific Leadership Programme, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, private sector representatives and the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
 

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will host the official opening of the Trade Pasifika 2012 in the evening of June 25. Attorney General and Minister for Industry and Trade Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum will be the chief guest at the event.

 

The three day event will also offer targeted panel discussions from trade, export and import specialists.
 

On Monday, the panel discussion “Export – Worth the business? will highlight the regulations in place governing customs and bio-security in international markets; the Trans-shipping and freight processes in the region as well as provide an opportunity to dialogue with policy makers in the region. On Tuesday the panel discussion will focus on trade agreements. The session will enhance business understanding of the current trade negotiations and processes, and facilitate dialogue between the private sector and those officers who are responsible for the negotiation process. On Wednesday, the panel discussion will focus on quality assurance and marketing. The session aims to enhance business understanding of marketing techniques to help grow and develop Small – Medium Enterprises as well as build an appreciation of business quality assurance to improve competitiveness.
 

Trade Pasifika 2012 is open free to the public from 2-5pm daily.

 

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For more information contact:
 

MaretaTovata on (679) 7736303 or on tradepasifika@pipso.org.fj

Shobhna Decloitre, UNDP Communications Specialist on 9926396 or Shobhna.decloitre@undp.org