Trade

The workshop, part of the Pacific E-commerce Initiative, is enabling trade officials across the region to unpack findings of a Pacific E-commerce assessment, and a sub-regional assessment for the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). These discussions will feed into a Pacific E-Commerce Strategy aiming to lift engagement in digital trade.

Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), David Toua, said this recently in Tokyo, Japan, during the ABAC 2 Meeting.

Toua said the region was currently at the crossroads and urged ABAC members not to regress growth.

“One road takes us towards open markets, dynamic flows of goods, services, investment and people, and inclusive growth. The other takes us backwards towards protectionism, exclusion and regional economic slows

“We should not hold back progress in the Asia-Pacific,” said Toua.

This was revealed by Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy, Yao Ming.

He said economic cooperation between PNG and China has grown over the last few years since the state visit by Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, in 2016.

Since then trade has increased under the guidance of both countries leaders.

“Bi-lateral relations between both countries have proceeded very well and fast, especially in the area of economic cooperation, our two countries trade volume reachedUS$2.8 billion in 2017,” said Deputy Ambassador Ming.

Over the past five years the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation has been helping regional governments to develop agritourism policies and grow trade.

This has been achieved in Samoa and Fiji by linking hotels with the local farmers associations.

In Vanuatu, the government now primarily sources locally produced food for all its official functions and events.

In Solomon Islands work is beginning on developing food tourism and tapping into niche markets like beauty and wellness products.

Trade is one of those agenda’s, in particular for PNG small Business owners; it’s to have access to markets where their products can be sold.

PNG made products have been a central theme for APEC meetings held in the country leading up to the big meeting in 2018.

The recent transport Ministers meeting held at the ritzy Stanely Hotel saw a number of small business owners showcase their products.

The organisers told loop PNG that superior coffee from Kainantu was becoming a top favourite with international visitors due to it rich organic flavour.

Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru told his people in the Yangoru Saussia District last week that all MPs and ministers will continue to perform their roles until the end of the election process.

The local Yangoru Saussia MP said, the District Development Authority will continue to fund its commitments in the districts.

Maru also appealed to his people to respect the democratic rights of each and other and no voter intimidation must be practiced.

That is the clarification from Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister, Richard Maru.

The SEZ project is located in Minister Maru’s Yangoru-Saussia District in East Sepik.   

“Finance has all the records, they decide and sign all the cheques, so all the cheques that go out, Finance gives the authorisation, (and) are the ones doing the acquittals,” Maru responded to a question from Loop PNG.

“It’s not that the funds are in an account that we control, the funds are in a trust account that the Finance (Department) controls.”

He is also the chairman of the project steering committee. 

“Any project we will not displace any traditional landowners because the land is very large and does not have people sitting on it,” Andrias said.

He added that the project is a National Government funded project and currently the government is building basic infrastructures like roads and electricity lines to the project site for investor to start its feasibility studies.    

“Basic infrastructures and law and order is a prerequisite for the investor to settle and invest,” Andrias said.

Trump fought unsuccessfully in Chinese courts for years to try to gain control of the trademark, but his fortunes changed suddenly last year during the latter stages of his campaign for the White House.

China's trademark review board announced in September it had invalidated a rival claim for the Trump trademark, clearing the way for Trump to move in. In November, soon after the election, it awarded the trademark to the Trump Organization. The trademark was officially registered this week after a three-month notice period for objections expired.