22 Aug 2011

Vanuatu and PNG leaders welcome potential new trade agreement

12:53 pm on 22 August 2011

Fisheries and foreign affairs officials from Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea are welcoming the idea of a new trade agreement.

The idea follows a rift over a Vanuatu law that makes any fish caught by Vanuatu-flagged ships in PNG waters a product of Vanuatu.

Vanuatu's Ambassador to the European Union, Roy Micky Joy, initiated an informal meeting between leaders of the two MSG countries earlier this month to schedule a formal meeting to create a new bilateral trade agreement.

"Legally and technically the issues raised sovereign issues between Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. So we are trying to find a way forward to be able to examine and be able to solve such issues so that PNG and fisheries can be able to work together in the next few years."

Roy Micky Joy says he hopes the new trade agreement can address other common matters of interest between Vanuatu and PNG and build stronger ties.