ACP Ministerial meet at Nadi ponders over ailing textile trade
23 Jun '06
2 min read
The African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) in Nadi held trade Ministerial meeting recently where most important issue about ailing garment industry of the region was discussed among the 14 member countries.
Australia and New Zealand later joined the meeting basically to seek for avenues and try to access and forge economic partnership agreement with the European Union and explore further trade and investment opportunities.
Participants wanted to look at the rules of its origin under SPARTECA (South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Co-operation Agreement) and further deliberate over the issue threadbare.
The theme for the meeting was how to ensure trade, whether it would work to the advantage of social and economic development of the Pacific countries.
New Zealand had shown, a strong interest in the development of the Pacific to promote regional prosperity, stability and security.
It was agreed upon to remove trade barriers within the region and at a pace that ensures its success without any adverse consequences.
Fiji is the most significant Pacific export market for New Zealand, accounting for nearly NZ$300 million of exports.
Fiji is also an important Pacific defence partner that makes a real contribution to regional missions, such as the Regional Assistance Mission in Solomon Islands.
The meeting would be a reflection of the importance New Zealand places on deepening bilateral trade and defence relationships with Fiji.
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