23 March 2017
Media Release - For immediate release
PT Pacific Path to Market delegations arriving for Pasifika
Auckland based Pacific Islands Trade & Invest will welcome 25 small businesses arriving today for Auckland’s Pasifika Festival on 25-26 March 2017.
The full delegation of 25 companies from eight Pacific Islands countries is PT’s biggest delegation to attend and showcase their products at the Pasifika Festival under the PT Pacific Path to Market programme. The companies are from Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea,
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
PT Trade Commissioner Michael Greenslade said, “As well as trade into New Zealand, it is really important for us to also
focus on pan-Pacific trade. We will use this opportunity to engage with the representatives of the Economic Development
Agencies to help create opportunities for increased trade between the islands themselves.”
Palau’s delegate Tarita Holm has made the 12-hour journey via Korea arriving in Auckland on Tuesday. But despite a
little jet-lag she is ready to go. Ms Holm is the owner of Palaun Made – a small business producing coconut candies,
Beach Almond Roca, Taro cookies and chips in Palau keen to learn more about exporting and the New Zealand market.
The PT Pacific Path to Market program kicks off with an official welcome on Friday 24th March with a Maori Powhiri (welcome)
at the Te Mahurehure Marae in Point Chevalier to start the four-day programme. The delegates will then have an
opportunity to meet with Media and move onto a site visit to Western Springs and then, a stallholder’s meeting with
organisers.
The Pacific Path to Market programme presents a structured approach to the market in New Zealand, starting with export
capability building workshops in the Pacific Islands followed by an invitation to a select group of companies based on
their potential to export. The selection process is conducted in partnership with the local Economic Development Agency.
Last year, PT successfully delivered workshop in 10 Pacific Island countries.
The companies on this trade mission will take the next step in the PP2M programme. This Trade Mission will focus on
three main areas – (1) Participation at the Pasifika Festival, (2) Gap Analysis Workshop and (3) Business to Business
meetings.
Companies range from small established businesses who are exploring opportunities beyond their domestic market for the
first time to the well-established experienced exporters.
On Monday March 27th, The Pacific Path to Market programme continues at the PT offices in Newmarket with a Gap Analysis one-day workshop briefing on the New Zealand market, distribution channels and
guest speakers. On Tuesday, delegations will undertake site visits to a range of Auckland businesses followed by a
‘speed dating’ Business to Business session ending with a Trade Mission debriefing before they leave on Wednesday.
(Ends)
About Pacific Islands Trade & Invest
Pacific Islands Trade & Invest (PT) is the economic development agency of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, engaged in trade and investment in
Pacific Island Forum Countries including the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall
Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The PT Network has offices in New Zealand, Australia, China, Japan and Switzerland.