The meeting of trade ministers from Pacific Island countries that are parties to the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus) has successfully concluded. The meeting aimed to review the future of trade and foreign investment in the Pacific. This marks the First in-person of ministers under PACER Plus since the agreement came into effect in 2020.

The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Trade for Samoa, Hon. Leota Laki Lamositele, and included participation from trade ministers and senior officials from Australia, the Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Tonga, represented by Hon. Dr. Viliami Uasike Latu, who led Tonga’s delegation.

Tonga ratified the PACER Plus agreement in 2020, which has provided numerous benefits supporting the private sector not only in Tonga but also in other member countries. PACER Plus has contributed to enhancing opportunities for Tongan workers in Australia and New Zealand, facilitating education and training programs to promote Tonga to foreign investors, assisting businesses affected by COVID-19 and the HTHH (Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai) disaster, and funding ongoing initiatives to protect and simplify processes for businesses exporting goods abroad, such as kava.

The private sector is a driver of trade growth, and during the meeting, support was expressed to expand initiatives that assist businesses. Recommendations were made to the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) to expedite the DEC Work Program between New Zealand, Australia, and Pacific countries and to streamline collaboration with private sector enterprises.

The ministers expressed their support for renewing the strategic framework for economic development under PACER Plus, with plans to extend its programs for another five years beyond December 2025.

This meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment to advancing trade, investment, and labor mobility among member countries under the PACER Plus agreement.

𝐅𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐡𝐚 𝐤𝐚𝐮 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭ā 𝐅𝐞𝐟𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐮ʻ𝐚𝐤𝐢 𝐤𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐢 𝐅𝐞𝐟𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐮ʻ𝐚𝐤𝐢 𝐦𝐨 𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐢 ʻ𝐢 𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐤𝐢

15 Novema 2024: Kuo lava kakato ‘a e fakataha kau Ministā Fefakatauʻaki ʻa e ngaahi fonua ʻoku nau kau ki he Aleapau Fengāueʻaki vāofi fakaʻekonōmika ʻa e Ngaahi Fonua Pasifiki (PACER Plus) ke siofia e kahaʻu ʻo e fefakatauʻakí mo e ʻinivesimeni mei mulí ʻi he Pasifikí. Ko e fuofua taimi ia ke fakatahataha mai ʻa e kau Minisitā ʻi he Fefakatauʻakí talu mei he kamata ’a e aleapau ni ʻi he 2020.

Na’e sea ʻi he fakatahá ni ʻa e Minisitā Fefakatauʻaki ʻo Samoa, Hon. Leota Laki Lamositele pea kau atu ki ai kau Minisitā Fefakatauʻaki mo e kau ʻofisa māʻolunga ʻa ‘Aositelelia, ‘Otumotu Kuki, Kilipati, Nuʻusila, Niue, Samoa, ‘Otumotu Solomone, Tuvalu, Vanuatu pea pehē ki Tongá ni ʻa ia ne taki folau atu ai ‘a Hon. Dr. Viliami Uasikē Lātū.

Ko e aleapau foki eni na’e fakamoʻoni ki ai ʻa Tongá ni ʻi he taʻu 2020 pea kuo lahi ngaahi tokoni ʻoku tafe mei ai ʻoku ne poupouʻi ʻa e sekitoa taautahá ʻikai ngata pē ʻi Tongá ni ka e pehē ki he ngaahi fonua kaungāʻapí. Ko e PACER Plus na’e tokoni ki he fakalahi ’a e ngaahi faingamalie ke ngaue ’a e kau Tonga ’i ‘Aositelēlia mo Nu’usila, fakalele ngaahi ako mo e fakataukei ki hono tu’uaki atu ‘a Tonga ni ki he kau ‘inivesitoa muli, tokoni ki he fakaakeake ʻo e ngaahi pisinisi ne uesia ʻi he COVID-19 mo e HTHH hangē ko e ngoué mo e takimamatá aʻu aipe ki hono fakapaʻanga ʻa e ngaahi ngāue ʻoku lolotonga fakahoko ke maluʻi mo fakafaingofuaʻi e ngaahi pisinisi uta koloa ki tuʻapuleʻangá hangē ko e kavá.