Mr Alex Kerangpuna of Papua New Guinea (PNG) has commenced work as Trade Policy Officer based in the Office of the Delegation of the Pacific Islands Forum to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland. In welcoming Mr Kerangpuna, Mrs Aivu Tauvasa, Permanent Representative of the Pacific Islands Forum to the WTO, said the appointment strengthens the technical capacity of the PIF-Geneva Office and will improve the support provided to Forum Island Country WTO Members and Observers. “Mr Kerangpuna joins our team at a critical time when there are significant and challenging exchanges on how to deal with DOHA which still remains very dead locked,” said Ambassador Tauvasa. “Part of Mr Kerangpuna’s role will be to help facilitate the inclusion of our regional WTO members in this dialogue. As well, Mr Kerangpuna’s familiarity with trade policy issues in our region will also benefit the Geneva Office in its attendance and participation in WTO fora on behalf of Forum Island Country WTO members." Mr Kerangpuna graduated with a Masters’ Degree in International Trade and Commerce Law (MIntCL) at Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia, in 2010. He is one of a handful of students from the Pacific region to have been awarded the prestigious Australian Prime Minister’s Award. Before his appointment, Mr Kerangpuna was a Senior Trade Officer with the PNG Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade involved in trade issues under PICTA, PACER Plus, APEC and PNG’s Multilateral Trade Agreements. Prior to his taking up this job, he was acting Director of the WTO Branch in the Trade Division. Mr Kerangpuna can be contacted at the PIF-Geneva Office on alex.kerang@pif-geneva.ch (Ends) For further information on the PIF-WTO Geneva Office please click here
