Fiji Participates In The Forum Trade Officials Meeting In Suva

The Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Dr. Raijeli Taga and the Trade Officials participated in the Forum Trade Officials Meeting (FTOM) held at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) in Suva on 5 June 2026.

The was also attended by Senior Trade Officials from Australia, Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu to discuss shared priorities for strengthening regional trade and economic cooperation.

Participants were also supported by regional technical agencies and observers, including the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), and the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat.

The meeting took place at a time of heightened global economic uncertainty, with officials noting the impact of external shocks on fuel prices, shipping and aviation costs, inflation, and supply chain stability. Discussions emphasised the importance of coordinated regional responses to strengthen resilience, reduce trade costs, and support stable economic conditions across Pacific Island economies.

A significant focus of the meeting was the need to strengthen regional coordination and improve the effectiveness of existing governance arrangements. Officials acknowledged that while the regional trade architecture has expanded over time to address emerging priorities, there is growing recognition of the need to enhance coherence, reduce duplication, and improve implementation efficiency to better support Pacific businesses and governments. Fiji strongly supported efforts to ensure that regional systems are practical, streamlined, and capable of delivering real outcomes for the Pacific people.

Fiji also used the meeting to advance its national vision for more inclusive and community-driven economic development through its proposal for a Pacific Islands Co-operatives Network (PICON). Fiji highlighted cooperatives as an important mechanism for strengthening livelihoods, supporting MSMEs, and enabling greater participation in trade and value chains across the region. Fiji’s initiative reflects its broader ambition to deepen regional cooperation in ways that directly benefit communities and promote inclusive growth. The proposal was welcomed as a constructive contribution, with further consultation encouraged to support its development.

Across the broader agenda, Members discussed key priorities including labour mobility, private sector development, implementation of the Pacific Regional Private Sector Strategy, Aid for Trade initiatives, WTO developments, and trade and environment priorities.

Officials also underscored the importance of ensuring that regional initiatives are implemented in a timely and coordinated manner, with adequate consultation and alignment across national and regional processes. Fiji emphasised the need for practical, implementation-focused cooperation that delivers measurable benefits for businesses and communities across the Pacific.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening Pacific-led trade cooperation, improving regional governance effectiveness, and advancing sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Fiji reaffirmed its continued leadership role in supporting a resilient, connected, and opportunity-driven Blue Pacific economy under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.