Australia's Minister for Trade, Simon Crean, and Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, have welcomed the outcomes of the 2009 Pacific Islands Forum Trade Ministers Meeting just concluded in Apia, Samoa.
"The Pacific region has today (June 18) taken a very significant step towards increasing economic growth and sustainability," Mr Crean remarked, adding:
"My regional counterparts have agreed to recommend to our Leaders that PACER Plus negotiations be launched at the Forum Leaders Meeting in Cairns in August."
"The hard work begins now to ensure that we support our neighbours in enabling them to take advantage of existing market opportunities, and show what we mean by putting the substance into the "plus" of PACER Plus," he continued, further remarking:
"I am pleased to announce that Australia will provide up to AUD15.5m (USD12.2m) over four years for the Pacific Market Access Program that will help Forum Island Countries to meet customs and import quarantine requirements of key trading partners, including Australia."
"Over the next year, we will work closely with key stakeholders and regional organizations to finalize arrangements and begin working with Pacific governments to achieve our goal of increasing horticulture and agriculture exports and creating prosperity for Pacific communities."
Developing countries that have promoted exports and international competitiveness have been the most successful in achieving long term economic growth.
In particular, the export of high-value agricultural commodities has expanded rapidly in other parts of the world, significantly contributing to economic growth. However the development of these markets by Pacific island countries has been slow.
"In addition, Australia, with New Zealand, has agreed to provide up to AUD500,000 (USD396,551) per annum each for three years to fund a regional Office of Chief Trade Adviser whose job will be to assist Forum Island Countries to participate in the PACER Plus negotiations," Mr McMullan announced, adding:
"This is in addition to funding that we have already made available to build trade negotiating capacity. Australia has allocated AUD65,000 (USD51,551) for each Pacific island country to undertake independent trade related research and the Australian Leadership Award Trade Fellowship provides a total of AUD1.275m (USD1m) for at least one official from each Forum Island Country to undertake training at the Institute of International Trade at Adelaide University."
The Australian Government has allocated AUD410,000 (USD325,253) for WTO trade facilitation needs assessment workshops, run by the Oceania Customs Organization in the four WTO member (PNG, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Tonga) and two accession countries (Samoa and Vanuatu).
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