NZ PT&I appoints new trade commissioner

Michael Greenslade has been appointed trade commissioner of the Pacific Islands Trade & Invest (PT&I) in New Zealand. Greenslade joins PT&I, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s (PIFS) trade and investment arm, from New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE).

He was trade commissioner-Pacific at NZTE and served the organisation for 12 years, five of which were spent in Fiji, as the trade commissioner based in Suva. He has hands on private sector experience in export trading throughout the world, including in the Pacific, particularly in horticulture and agricultural products.

His expertise includes marketing, value chain processes, joint venture dealings and market matchmaking. While based in Fiji he was responsible for coordinating export and investment missions between Fiji and New Zealand.

As the Auckland-based trade commissioner of PT&I (NZ), Greenslade’s responsibilities will include providing appropriate market support to PIF countries in facilitating trade, and in particular support, for exports of Pacific island products to New Zealand, and inward investments into the Pacific islands.

Announcing the appointment, Andie Fong, acting secretary general of PIFS said: "Greenslade, who begins his new assignment on November 17 said the PT&I role is a natural extension of much of the work he has already started with NZTE. Many of the governments and private sector parties are well known to him."

Greenslade stated: "It is of clear benefit for the whole region, including New Zealand and Australia, to have a strong economic foundation for the commercial growth of the Pacific private sector. I look forward to being part of the PT&I team delivering economic development support and trade and investment opportunities to member nations of the Pacific Islands Forum."

Welcoming Greenslade’s appointment, Caleb Jarvis, PT&I trade commissioner in Australia said, "I am very pleased with the recruitment of Michael Greenslade whose Pacific credentials speak for themselves."