25 Jul 2006

Forum leader hopes for signs of economic benefit from Pacific Plan by next year

3:06 pm on 25 July 2006

The secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum, Greg Urwin, says they will know in a year if efforts under the Pacific Plan to improve the trading environment within the region are working.

The Plan was endorsed by Pacific leaders last October and included a number of measures to be implemented immediately.

This include trying to standardise regulations and improving quarantine and customs services.

Mr Urwin says they have managed to broadened capacity and hope there will be signs of economic benefit within the next 12 months.

"It's pretty incremental in many cases and in some cases the actual trading activity is coming off a really low base. But I think you would need to give us half or two thirds of the way through the first period of the Plan as to whether or not those particular measures are kicking in to any great effect."