Trade Commissioner to PNG Navitalai Tuivuniwai

This followed Fiji’s Biosecurity Authority executive chair, Xavier Riyaz Khan, and Fiji’s Trade Commissioner to PNG, Navitalai Tuivuniwai, travelling with a delegation to Port Moresby last month to defuse a looming trade war.

Tuivuniwai told Loop PNG from Fiji that a final decision will be known soon.

“Right now the technical team from the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji are in the process of submitting the final report to government for their endorsement,” Tuivuniwai said.   

Minister Maru last month bluntly issued threats to ban certain Fiji made products into the bigger PNG market if its Melanesian neighbour do not explain why Ox and Palm, Paradise Biscuits and Trukai Rice are banned.  

This resulted in the Fiji Government sending its Trade Commissioner to PNG Navitalai Tuivuniwai Biosecurity Authority (BAF) of Fiji chief veterinarian Dr Sian Watson, BAF chief plant protection officer Nilesh Ami Chand, and BAF trade facilitation and compliance team leader Ronal Prasad over the weekend to Port Moresby.