PNG supports Fiji’s stand on PACER PLUS

Papua New Guinea has expressed their support of Fiji’s position and its reservation concerning the current PACER-plus negotiations-which offers Pacific Island Forum countries benefit from enhanced regional trade and economic integration.

PNG’s Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry Richard Maru is currently on an official visit to Fiji and held a meeting with Trade Minister Faiyaz Koya this afternoon to show their full support.

Minister Maru says PNG can only sign PACER Plus if they are convincing and compelling reasons to do so.

PNG has agreed with Fiji that there are no binding commitments from both Australia and New Zealand which will allow big companies from the two countries dominate their business interest in the Pacific islands region.

Koya has welcomed PNG’s support and says Fiji has made its stand known as it’s a development base agreement and it needs to be focused on that.

“We will not sign a document that moves away from the actual agenda that’s in place. That is a development base agreement and we’re on the same footing so if that doesn’t happen we won’t sign a document that doesn’t address that. It’s our sovereignty that we’re also looking at. Because the negotiations had to date lacked the development aspect that it needed and fails to take into consideration the interest of the Pacific island countries and that in a nutshell is what we talked about and we’re extremely happy that we’ve got PNG support on this.”

Earlier last month, the Fijian government called for a review of PACER Plus negotiations, which is supposed to bring great economic benefits to the Pacific.

Koya says Pacer Plus should be a living agreement, without any country having difficulties in implementing the agreement.

The proposed free trade agreement between Australia, New Zealand and the 14 Pacific members of the Pacific island forum is aimed at working towards integrating the Pacific into one market.

This is by simplifying and harmonizing trade and investment rules and regulations thereby reducing the costs to traders and investors.

Koya adds all governments should ensure that current negotiations result in a long term, predictable and sustainable agreement – leading to increase in exports, job creation, poverty alleviation and private sector growth.

Source:  FBC