REGISTRATION OPEN: Second NSA Dialogue on PACER Plus

Registration is open for the Second Non-State Actors’ (NSA) Dialogue on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus. Representatives of national and regional NSAs from both the private sector and from civil society organisations who wish to participate in the NSA Dialogue may contact either PIPSO (Mrs Mereia Volavola at mereiav@pipso.org.fj) or PIANGO (Mrs Emele Duituturaga at emele.duituturaga@gmail.com) to register their interest by 12 March 2012. Attendance is strictly via registration and is on a self-funded basis. "Improving Consultation" is the theme for the NSA Dialogue to be held at the Novotel Hotel in Brisbane, Australia on 26 March 2012. The Dialogue is a collaborative effort of Pacific Islands Forum Members, the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO) and the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Government Organisations (PIANGO). The Dialogue will focus on consultative work undertaken in the region on PACER Plus negotiations, and will receive updates on national and regional consultations to date. Participants will then discuss ways to strengthen consultation on key issues and to better engage with NSAs as negotiations progress. NSAs will also have an opportunity to present their views on PACER Plus priorities to Officials and to ask questions related to the negotiations. The NSA Dialogue is an initiative of Forum Trade Ministers, and takes place in the margins of a PACER Plus Officials meeting. The Fourth Meeting of PACER Plus Officials is scheduled for 27-29 March 2012 in Brisbane, Australia. PACER Plus arrangements aim to deepen trade and economic cooperation between Forum Members. The objective of PACER Plus arrangement is to provide a comprehensive framework for trade and economic cooperation between Australia, New Zealand and the Forum Island Countries (FICs) to foster improved economic growth, investment and employment in the Pacific region. For media enquiries contact Ms Mue Bentley Fisher, the Forum Secretariat’s Communications Officer on phone +679 331 2600 or email: mueb@forumsec.org.fj (Ends)