Forumsec, SUVA, 28th April, 2023-- Resilience and innovation are key aspects of Pacific trade and investment in 2050, says Fiji Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for External Trade, Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica. He was the keynote speaker at a Pacific islands Forum-hosted Blue Pacific Webinar focused on trade and on investment. The Talanoa event was led by the Forum’s Pacific Trade Invest Network and held as a hybrid event at the Secretariat on April 24th, 2023.
Delivering the opening keynote, Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica spoke of the centrality of the Blue Pacific identity for the protection and sustenance of future generations. On the issue of resources and economic development, a key aspect of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, the Deputy Prime Minister said the strategy, “must create an enabling environment for private sector investment and innovation. This means addressing barriers to trade and investment, streamlining regulations, and investing in infrastructure and human capital development.”
Hon. Kamikamica said building resilience into our economies and societies will ensure capacity to adapt to changing circumstances. “There is a need to foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation that can drive economic growth and job creation. To do this, we must invest and build the capacity of our people, particularly our women and youth”, he said.
He encouraged the audience to utilize the Forum’s Pacific Trade Invest Network to its fullest potential in supporting the economic growth of the region.
In his opening remarks, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Mr. Henry Puna noted the vital role of the PTI in economic growth and building the global profile for Pacific-made products. He made special mention of the panelists. Mr. Praveen Narayan from Greengoldkava Fiji, Ms. Debra Sadranu from Essence Group Fiji, and PTI Australia Trade Commissioner Caleb Jarvis, all spoke from the viewpoint of the private sector. The Samoan High Commissioner to Fiji, His Excellency Ali'ioaiga Feturi Elisaia, and Ms. Vani Nades a member of the PTI advisory board, presented their views and emphasized post-COVID recovery as being critical.
The Talanoa Panel aimed to highlight PTI’s objectives and activities, and its contribution to the 2050 Strategy was moderated by Atenasi Ata, who is the Global Coordinator for the PTI Network. --ENDS
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