4 Dec 2012

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat members to gain from trade-related agreement with WTO

7:48 pm on 4 December 2012

Countries under the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat are expecting to receive greater trade-related technical assistance under a new agreement with the World Trade Organisation.

The Forum Secretariat and the WTO signed a five-year deal in Samoa last week for the two organisations to collaborate in helping Pacific island countries grow their trade-related capacity.

The director the Economic Governance Programme at the Forum Secretariat, Shiu Raj says the agreement will lead to improved trade policies.

"We are hoping that through this MOU we will be able to organise very specific training and capacity building activities. As an example one of the very first initiatives under this MOU we are hoping to deliver in the first quarter of next year is to present a very short trade policy course."

Shiu Raj says the agreement will also strengthen ties between Forum members