|
|
|
|
|
PACIFIC TRADE EXPOS STIR INTEREST OF NZ BUYERS |
|
By Ruci Farrel |
|
| |
Trade delegations from
Tahiti and the Cook Islands at this year’s Pasifika Festival generated
a great deal of interest from Aucklanders keen to pursue business
connections in the islands.
As guests of the Pacific Business Trust, Manukau City Council and
Enterprising Manaukau, the delegation from the Cook Islands spent four
days in Auckland to promote cultural and business interaction.
A recent Pacific Business Trust newsletter said the Cook Islands
delegation, headed by Prime Minister Dr Robert Woonton, had the
opportunity to showcase its products and services to local Pacific
businesses.
Nuku Repana who heads Auckland City Council’s Pasifika Advisory Board
to the Pasifika Festival is pleased the festival is providing
opportunities for Pacific people.
To this end Mr Repana said the advisory board, with Auckland City
Council, is currently working on future strategies to expand the
festival into a 10-day event.
A 44-man trade and tourism delegation from Tahiti drew very good
response at Pasifika with their unique selection of black pearls,
natural beauty products, oils, pareos, fruit juice and alcohol.
Horizons Francophones, a French language teaching institution in
Tahiti, which promotes the immersion of students in the culture and
language to enhance better understanding, drew very good response at
Pasifika.
Meanwhile the South Pacific Trade
and Investment Commission last year organized and hosted what could have been
the largest Pacific trade expo in New Zealand to coincide with the Pacific
Leaders Forum in Auckland.
The main objective of the Showcase was to promote tourism, trade, investment and
arts and culture of the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to New Zealand industry
and public. It also focused on promoting the work of the Pacific Islands Forum
and its related agencies.
Exhibitors came from the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia,
Fiji, Marshall Islands, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the South
Pacific Tourism Office, Tonga, Vanuatu, The Employers & Manufacturers
Association, New Caledonia Tourism, the |
|
 |
|
|
Niue handicrafts on display. |
 |
|
Fiji show case the vast selection of merchandise manufactured in
Fiji. |
 |
|
Promoting the Federated States of Micronesia as a holiday
destination.
|
| |
NZ Trade & Enterprise, Pacific Business Trust / Ministry of Pacific
Island Affairs, Solomon Islands, South Pacific Books, Tahiti Tourisme and Voyage
Pacific (MAREX). More than 5000 people passed through the Auckland City chambers
to view the wide range of products on offer from the islands.
“Many exhibitors made significant contacts with NZ importers,” Trade
Commissioner Parmesh Chand said.
“Grahame Hack from Santo Exports in Vanuatu established importers for his frozen
produce; Tonga, FSM and the Marshall Islands received orders from Heather Gerbic
of Pauanesia for their handicrafts. Fiji received enquiries from companies such
as The Little Import Company which imports and distributes home and giftware and
was looking for a table cloth supplier in Fiji.”
Mr Chand said the Pacific Islands Showcase was a success in spite of its
relatively small budget.
“It would be an excellent event tied in with the Pasifika Festival held each
year. It could even be developed into one large NZ / Pacific trade event
showcasing the wares of both the PICs and the Pacific business community in NZ.”
“Of course a lot of planning and coordination would be involved but it would
make for a grand sized event which would hopefully generate more sponsorship,
support and exposure.”
“There is definitely a major role which the Auckland City Council could be
invited to play if this event is to be staged annually. This is particularly so
in terms of availability of venue and assistance with promotion and publicity,”
Mr Chand said
“It could be a partnership project between the PITIC and the Council, as a lead
up to the Pasifika Festival, in 2005.”
Australia and New Zealand are the biggest exporters of Pacific Island products
but there has always been a trade deficit with very few exports from the islands
into the two major markets.
A study funded and conducted by Australia to improve sea and air transportation
in the Pacific could open up endless possibilities for the region.
The isolation of far flung small island states and complicated and costly travel
expenses has, from time immemorial, has hindered trade and travel prospects for
the region.
|
|
| |
Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd.
|
|
|
|
|
