Trade fair projects Tuvalu’s regional potential

The Auckland offices of Pacific Islands Trade & Invest (PT&I) was proud to have worked closely with Tuvalu’s Trade Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Tourism, Environment and Labour to make the event a success.
A core activity of the ministry’s 2013 calendar, the event not only provided an opportunity to showcase Tuvalu’s business and trade potential to contribute to the region’s economy but also served as a platform for the private sector to interact with Government. Trade Manager Pula Lagi and Dr Jim Gosselin, National Trade Policy Advisor to the Government of Tuvalu both had extensive discussions with the private sector on the Government’s policies and export development plans.
Teremoana Mato, PT&I’s Auckland based Trade & Export Services Manager visited Tuvalu during the event. “Though small in size, even if there is one export commodity we can facilitate the export of from Tuvalu, then this is a significant outcome for the small nation. This does not necessarily have to be for the New Zealand market, but the opportunity to look at intra-regional trade. For instance there are already direct shipping links into Suva, therefore the opportunity for Tuvalu coconuts for export to Fiji is one opportunity,” Mr Mato told Pacific Periscope.
Mr Mato also said he was already in discussions with the General Manager of the Tuvaluan Coconut Traders Cooperative. The cooperative is ready to export a 20-foot container of coconuts every two months. “They are an organized Co-op with over 5000 members and well supported by government,” he said.
The Tuvalu Government has assured the country’s private sector through its Department of Trade, that it will intensify its support for the Tuvalu National Private Sector Organization (TNPSO) to assist it to play an increasingly important role in the development of Tuvalu.
The country plans to focus attention on the untapped potential of its 900,000 sq km exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Tuvalu’s dot tv country top level internet domain brings in more than $3.5 million dollars every year – a revenue it did not have before the era of the internet. Dot tv is a popular domain extension for internet based television firms all over the world.

Link: http://www.pacifictradeinvest.com/wp/?p=5432&utm_source=Maxmail&utm_med…