Twenty-three government officials and private sector representatives from the six Pacific Island countries that are members of the  World Trade Organisation (W.T.O.) gathered in Samoa this week.

The officials from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu attended the W.T.O. Short Trade Policy Course for Pacific Island countries at Taumeasina Island Resort. 

The training course was organised by the Secretariat of the World Trade Organization (W.T.O.) in partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (P.I.F.S.).

The short trade policy course is part of the W.T.O’s progressive learning programme.

It aims to provide participants with a good foundation of the functioning, structure and basic principles of the W.T.O. 

Further, it is designed to enhance the regional economic perspectives in trade policy development; and provide a platform for Pacific Island countries to interact and exchange knowledge on trade issues which are of interest to the region.

The course was closed by Palepa Ng Chok-Amosa, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 

Mrs. Amosa commended the participants for successfully completing the course and encouraged them to make good use of the knowledge and experience gained to contribute to the Pacific’s positions at the W.T.O.

This is to ensure the Pacific effectively engages in in international trade discussions and shaping the rules of the multilateral trading system.