18 May 2011

Pacific trade ministers meet in Tonga

10:10 am on 18 May 2011

The secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, says Pacific trade ministers have challenging decisions ahead of them when they meet in Vava'u in Tonga from today.

Officials from the Forum nations have been meeting over the past two days to prepare recommendations for the ministers.

Mr Slade says the ministers will consider a range of issues and make decisions which will help their communities benefit more fully from trade.

He says increased trade would advance the Pacific Plan and help countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals by creating business opportunities.

A trade fair is being run in conjunction with the meeting, with Pacific Islands Trade and Invest's trade commissioners from China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, attending to help Tongan businesses to promote products.