Vanuatu to host first Tourism Policy platform
Director General for Agriculture, Howard Aru led the discussions for the proposed event earlier this month during the Caribbean-Pacific Agri-food Forum in Barbados.
The initiative will be capitalizing on the platform of the strong Caribbean-Pacific Connection established with the continuous support of the CTA and the Intra-ACP Agricultural Policy Programme (Intra-ACP APP).
Talking about the Tourism Policy Platform, Vanuatu’s Ambassador to the EU, Roy Mickey Joy who is also working very closely with the International organizations said “we are going to invite a few presenters from the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean to come over to assist the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Trade to be able to blend in a first advance policy to support the cause of action”.
“We are also planning to have a conference for the small Island States in the Indian Ocean, in Seychelles to share experience with Vanuatu as to how to contact business and improve on this undertaking,” said Joy.
Talking about the importance of the undertaking between the Pacific Island nations and the Caribbean, the Vanuatu Ambassador stressed that “we have reached a time in the entire history of the ACP after 40 years of establishment; we are beginning to see a rise in terms of engagement, in terms of collaboration, in terms of support between the Pacific and the Caribbean Island States.
“We must also be thankful and give credit to the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) platform that embraces the coexistence of this Island groups.
“They are part of the ACP, 15 from the Pacific Island group and we have 16 brothers and sisters from the Caribbean.”
Joy described the Barbados Forum as “being of another history in the making”.
“We have reached a point where there needs to be more and better engagement between the Caribbean and the Pacific in terms of Agri-business, in terms of tourism, in terms of trade, in terms investment, and in terms of private sector.
“Why is it that the Pacific and the Caribbean are not engaging, what is the problem?
“We have similar problems, we rely on tourism we are surrounded by the big ocean, why can’t we work together?”
He said the meeting was able to conclude the need for greater interaction between the Caribbean private sector, the tourism and the Agri-Food industry, Agri-business and he thinks Vanuatu and the Pacific are in the right track.
The outspoken Ambassador said he is very happy that with the support and collaboration established with the Vanuatu Ministry of Agriculture and CTA in Brussels and the ACP Secretariat, Vanuatu is the first country to be given the great opportunity.
“I want to encourage everybody that we should continue this momentum to build up support to ensure CTA comes and helps our farmers, our businesses and Agri-businesses to beef up their own strategies and help them to market and sustain their own sustainable development goals,” he said.
source: Vanuatu Daily Post
Post a Comment