ForumSec, Suva/28 April 2023-- The 4th Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Independent Advisory Board meeting has convened this week at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji. This was the first in-person meeting of the Board held at the Forum.
The Board provides advice to the Secretary General on sound governance practices and the strategic direction for the PTI Network. It was established in April last year, after a regional exercise seeking private sector nominations from Member countries.
Chaired by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Henry Puna, PTI’s independent advisory board members Ms. Michelle Macdonald, of Samoa, Ms. Vani Nades, of Papua New Guinea, Mr. Ian Clarke, of Australia and Mr. Fletcher Melvin of the Cook Islands attended the meeting. Presenting to the board and informing the discussions were the Secretary to the Board, and all the Trade Commissioners from PTI offices in Auckland, Beijing, Geneva and Sydney. The meeting noted the status of the network’s strategic plan that will direct PTI activities and efforts for the next four years, which is currently with Member Countries for consideration.
In his opening remarks, the board chair, and Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Mr. Henry Puna highlighted the importance of the meeting saying, “I ask that we maintain clarity of sight to the Board’s noble tasking. Our purpose is the establishment of a system that supports PTI’s performance. The system will be a policy-based, fiscal management and risk governance system. It is that chicken-egg paradox. We want to signal that PTI is a sound investment achieving sustainable and far-reaching outcomes across our region.”
The Board first met in May 2022 immediately after its establishment. Substantive discussions were held at its second meeting in Sydney, December 2022 where the Board considered the first draft of the PTI Network Strategic Plan 2023-2026. At its third meeting in February 2023 the Trade Commissioners presented their implementation plans for the year.
As the Pacific’s lead trade and investment organization, PTI has offices in Australia, China, Europe, and New Zealand. As the trade and investment promotion agency of the Pacific Islands Forum, PTI is tasked by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders to facilitate trade, investment, and tourism deals between the economies of the Pacific Island Countries and Territories and the rest of the world. --ENDS
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