New Zealand’s Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Nicola Grigg, is set to visit Fiji this week to participate in the Pacific Island Forum’s Trade Ministers Meeting (FTMM) scheduled for July 18 in Suva. This biennial event serves as an essential platform for Pacific trade ministers to discuss and navigate the future of regional trade and economic integration.
Grigg has emphasized the vital role trade plays in boosting economic wellbeing, highlighting that it not only improves family finances but also drives employment and elevates living standards in New Zealand and throughout the Pacific. “The Government is strongly committed to supporting Pacific Island countries to grow the positive impacts of trade,” she stated, underscoring New Zealand’s dedication to regional cooperation and leadership in trade priorities as outlined in the 2050 Strategy for the Pacific Blue Continent.
In conjunction with the FTMM, Grigg will also attend a Fiji New Zealand Business Council event where a strategy aimed at achieving an ambitious goal of NZ$2 billion (approximately US$1.18 billion) in two-way trade by 2030 will be unveiled. This effort aligns with previous statements from Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica, who also expressed aspirations for significant progress in bilateral trade between both nations, particularly in sectors like agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy.
Grigg noted that discussions at the FTMM would address the importance of a rules-based trading system, vital for smaller nations like New Zealand and its PIF members. She anticipates engaging with her counterparts in the PACER Plus agreement, which emerges as the most comprehensive trade agreement in the region, facilitating growth for businesses, including those led by women, and promoting cross-border investment flows.
The ongoing commitment from both Fiji and New Zealand towards enhancing trade relations reflects a hopeful outlook for increased economic collaboration and resilience within the Pacific region. This partnership is not only set to bolster economic growth but also to strengthen the social and cultural ties that bind these nations together, marking a promising future for their continued cooperation on various fronts.
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