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Maximise fisheries benefits
Pacific Islands Countries (PICs) have been told to maximise the benefits of harvesting their fisheries resources as the tuna fishery in the western and central Pacific is the world’s last great tuna fishery.
“The sad reality is that we are only getting up to five percent of the value of tuna caught in our respective Economic Exclusive Zones (EEZs),” Marcellino Pipite, Vanuatu Minister of Agriculture, Quarantine, Forestry and Fisheries, said at the opening of the Pacific ACP Trade and Fisheries Ministers Meeting in Port Vila last month.
The meeting is to develop a regional approach on the proposal for a fisheries partnership agreement (FPA) while recognising the rights of individual Pacific ACP states to negotiate bilateral fisheries agreements with the European Union.
Pipite told the meeting the value of tuna caught inside PICs’ EEZs has increased from about US$1 billion in 1997 to US$1.2 billion in 2004.
“The question we as ministers who are responsible for trade and fisheries must adequately address is whether or not, as custodians of the largest tuna resources, are getting sufficient rates of return from the harvesting of this resource and other fisheries resources in our respective EEZs,” Pipite said.
“As such, negotiating a favourable outcome for fisheries under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU demands careful and well designed approach to ensure our development aspirations and interests are adequately covered and are not compromised.”
Pipite said while having bilateral fisheries agreements is acceptable, “let us not forget that when the resource is depleted as a result of our development aspirations, we cannot take a bilateral approach to address the sustainability issues.
“The advantage in negotiating as a group maintains our regional solidarity which is also necessary for negotiating favourable outcomes in other sectors. The basic rationale why we are pursuing a regional EPA with the EU is for the region to build a strong collective bargaining position in negotiating a favourable outcome for fisheries as opposed to negotiating fisheries agreements with the EU on a bilateral basis.”—PIFS
Agriculture opens up
Foreign investors who wish to participate in large-scale agriculture-based business activities in Fiji may now be able to do so without the required local shareholding. Agriculture is one of the areas listed as a restricted activity in Fiji’s Foreign Investment Act and requires that 40 percent of the foreign investor’s equity is held by Fiji citizens. The new change was announced recently by Fiji’s Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who is also the chairman of a Cabinet subcommittee on investment. “For capital-intensive commercial agriculture like poultry, hydroponics and beef farming, the 40 percent equity threshold may not apply and the minister is to have the discretion to impose conditions on a case-by-case basis, depending on such considerations as: the business history of the foreign investor; the financial ability and capacity of the foreign investor; the management systems being brought in; the expertise and level of technology to be introduced; the type of capital intensive agro-businesses; the need for such investment; and any other relevant matters,” said Qarase.
Labour scheme
A new scheme that will enable Pacific workers to obtain temporary permits to work in New Zealand’s horticulture and viticulture industries is some way from being finalised and interested candidates will need to wait until next year before they apply, the New Zealand Department of Labour said.
Group Manager Service International Kerupi Tavita said Pacific candidates must wait until the policy is in place and they have a job offer from a recognised seasonal employer before contacting the department about applications.
EC helps sugar countries
The European Commission (EC) has adopted multi-annual strategies for 13 of the 18 ACP Sugar Protocol countries, including Fiji, outlining its support to those countries in helping them adapt to the challenges of the European Union (EU) sugar reform.
The support strategies are tailored to each country’s challenges and potential, and are based on the Protocol countries’ own choices as to how best to adapt to the impact of the sugar reform. The Sugar Protocol has provided signatory countries with preferential access to the high priced EU sugar market for the last 30 years. The reform of the EU sugar regime, agreed in November 2005, will significantly alter market conditions for protocol producers since prices for exports to the EU are set to diminish.
Business online database gets into gear
A new online database has been launched to open up more opportunities for small businesses in the Pacific Islands to reach global markets. Pacificbizonline.com is a joint initiative by the Pacific Cooperation Foundation and the Pacific Trade & Investment Commission NZ.
The on-line database would be a dynamic marketing tool that would be particularly useful to many of the small and medium enterprises in the 16 Pacific Islands countries by listing all their products, services and contact details on-line.
Economy on shaky ground: Bank
The continuing political uncertainty in Fiji has seriously undermined efforts to stabilise the islands’ economy, let alone pursue further growth, says Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) governor Savenca Narube.
In a media report, he said the uncertain political environment scared away investors and tourists, both of whom played a critical role in Fiji’s growth in the past five years. “Since 2001, we have managed to reverse the decline in investment and it is now at its highest level for a long time,” he said.
“The uncertainty poses significant risks to growth, investment and jobs,” he said.
Work permit abuse cost $m
The Solomon Islands Government admits losing millions of dollars to foreign workers who continuously avoid paying proper work permits as it takes a tougher approach on the matter, a Solomon Star report said. Permanent Secretary of Commerce, Industries and Employment Geoffrey Wickham revealed the surprising figures even though the Commissioner of Labour Ronald Unisi refused to disclose details of the matter when approached.
Wickham admitted there is a problem with workers’ permits and the government is losing millions of dollars because people are not honest with their permits. He cited the logging industry as one example, whereby one businessman owns several companies but rotates his workers to the companies without paying proper permits.
Tanoa Hotels expand regionally
The Reddy Group, owners of the largest local chain of hotels in Fiji with six properties, plans to build a 4-star hotel at Matautu, Apia. The first phase will see Tanoa Hotels open with 100 rooms, full conferencing and banqueting facilities, two restaurants and a bar. The hotel is to be located next to Apia Port with two beautiful beaches and the world famous marine reserve Palolo Deep. In addition, Tanoa Hotels together with Nomads from Australia will open a 100-bed flashpacker resort in Port Vila, in Vanuatu, next February.
Solomon Airlines’ B737-300
It’s a scene never seen before as hundreds of people gathered at Pekoa Airport in Espiritu Santo (Santo) to welcome the inaugural flight of the Solomon Airlines’ newly leased Boeing 737-300 aircraft.
The inaugural flight from Brisbane to Honiara and Santo, Vanuatu, was met with cheers from the crowd of spectators as it touched down at the newly built Pekoa Airport.
Welcoming the new plane, Vanuatu’s Finance Minister Willie Jimmie told the delegation from the Solomon Islands that the new air service will strengthen ties between the two neighbouring Melanesian countries.
He congratulated the Solomon Islands government for its bold step in opening up the new international air link.
The aircraft has been leased by Solomon Airlines for six months and will be used to service the Brisbane, Honiara, Santo (a new airline destination) and Fiji routes.
Traditional dancers and several string bands joined the crowd in welcoming the delegation from the Solomon Islands.
The Solomons’ delegation was led by Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo.
Around 48 people from Solomon Islands including ministers, permanent secretaries, public servants, private sector representatives and financial institutions were present to witness the inaugural flight.
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