Fiji’s Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Faiyaz Siddiq Koya, is confident the ban of PNG Made products will be resolved when his delegation arrives for talks with their PNG counterparts.
A team of officials from Fiji’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism and Biosecurity Authority, will be arriving in Port Moresby over the weekend to meet with officials from PNG to iron out issues that sparked the trade impasse. The issue between PNG and Fiji is over Ox & Palm and other PNG Made products.
This was revealed in a letter dated 21st September, 2016, from Minister Siddiq Koya to PNG’s Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Richard Maru.
The Fijian team will work with their PNG counterparts to specifically resolve the issue of biosecurity pathways and also discuss other trade issues.
The delegation from Fiji will include Fijian Trade Commissioner to PNG, Navitalai Tuivuniwai, chief veterinarian Dr Sian Watson, chief plant protection officer Nilesh Ami Chand and Ronal Prasad, who is team leader for trade facilitation and compliance.
PNG’s technical team will include officers from NAQIA, the Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry, Department of Agriculture & Livestock, PNG manufacturers of the Ox & Palm, Snax Biscuits and Trukai Rice products.
A meeting will be held between the two teams on Monday, 26th September, followed by visits to Hugo Canning Company Limited, Lae Biscuit Company and Trukai Rice Limited.
Minister Siddiq Koya further revealed that he is adamant that through this bilateral engagement, Fiji is looking forward to a stronger trade and economic relation with PNG.
Meanwhile, Maru is grateful for the news and welcomes the Fijian team into the country.
“I look forward to getting a fruitful outcome from this meeting and assure you of our highest level of cooperation when your team comes to Port Moresby, as it is in both our interest to get a speedy resolution to this trade impasse,” Minister Maru said.
He said the teams should also use this opportunity to discuss any outstanding trade issues between Fiji and PNG.
“We look forward to receiving your team and assure you of our continued long term commitment to a barrier free and Free Trade Area within the MSG.”
The ban of these products was in place for 12 years because Fiji claims they (products) do not meet its biosecurity and quarantine requirements.
(A Lae Biscuit Company float during the Frangipani Festival parade in Rabaul, East New Britain, last Saturday. The Fiji delegation will discuss with PNG on why PNG Made products, like Snax biscuits, are banned in Fiji.)