20 May 2009

Samoa endorses hosting high level ministerial trade talks in June

1:46 pm on 20 May 2009

Samoa's government has confirmed it will host the next ACP or African Caribbean Pacific Ministers of Trade and Trade Forum ministers meeting next month.

The meeting was to be hosted by the Solomon Islands government but due to unforeseen circumstances, it put a request to Samoa to host the event.

The two meetings will discuss trade issues in the Pacific in relation to the Pacific's Economic Partnership Agreements or EPAs with the European Union.

The Ministers will also look at ways to help the Pacific cope with the current economic crisis.

Up to 60 government representatives from Pacific states will attend the two-week meeting, which will benefit local businesses in Samoa.

The ministerial level gathering in Apia will be held between June the 8th and the 20th.

It will be mostly funded by the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat.