Trade mission to New Zealand anticipates new buyers

Trade mission to New Zealand anticipates new buyers

22 April 2015

Suva, Fiji – Six Pacific Islands’ exporters from across the region will have an opportunity to find new distributors in New Zealand through a trade mission in July, jointly coordinated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and Pacific Islands Trade and Invest (PT&I).

The mission for selected exporters, who will be promoting products such as virgin coconut oil, fruit, vegetables, spices and coffee, has been initiated through the Increasing Agricultural Commodity Trade (IACT) project, a trade initiative implemented by SPC and funded by the European Union.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed today in Suva by SPC Chief of Staff, Patricia Sachs-Cornish, and PT&I New Zealand’s Trade Commissioner, Michael Greenslade, cements the collaboration to showcase Pacific products to leading chefs and boost export opportunities.

Involving selected enterprises from some of the biggest Pacific Islands’ exporting countries (Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Samoa), the mission is aiming to increase the participants’ export sales in the New Zealand market.

“Entering into this partnership with PT&I is essential to complete the supply chain for quality Pacific products. SPC assists enterprises in developing market-ready products and PT&I will now be able to put them on shelves through the identification of buyers,” Ms Sachs-Cornish said.

Speaking at the MOU signing, Mr Greenslade said he had high hopes for the enterprises and was looking forward to introducing them to some of Auckland’s high profile Pacific chefs. The chefs will show the enterprises how their products can be used in restaurant dishes and what is required to be successful in supplying the hospitality market.

PT&I promotes Pacific Island products to international buyers and will provide resources in their Auckland office as their contribution to the mission, which includes the programme, market research, event management, appointment scheduling and follow-up.

SPC is finalising the selection of six enterprises for the mission based on their level of existing exports and their capacity to supply further customers in New Zealand.

The Increasing Agricultural Commodity Trade (IACT) project is a four-year joint initiative between SPC and the European Union, aimed at strengthening Pacific Island exports in 13 Pacific Island countries. There are 42 enterprises selected through an expression of interest process, and all have improved their export capability as a result of IACT assistance. Please see the IACT webpage.

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