Page 35 - IB MAR 2017

Region in Brief

CEO leaves held in the same venue. quarter of a million tala a year.
LONG time Solomon Airlines chief, Gus Now in its fourth year, SPTE brings This was confirmed by Prime Minister,
Kraus, has left the company and flown to together tourism operators from 16 Pacific Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi yesterday.
other pastures. Island Countries and international travel Tuilaepa said Cabinet has discussed
Loved by some and liked less by others, wholesalers and agencies under one roof and supported the proposal from the
Kraus stepped on many toes before he was for two days of scheduled business ap- businessman.
gently eased out of the job towards the pointments. “We discussed this issue in Cabinet on
end of last year. Opened in December 2016, the AU$1.5 Wednesday,” said Tuilaepa.
He has now moved on to Papua New billion ICC is at the heart of the revitalised “Remember we have been advertising
Guinea with the Solomon Airlines board waterfront precinct in Darling Harbour, this market for so long but people hesi-
looking to strengthen local participation a fitting home for the Pacific’s premier tated to go there because they say it’s far
in the company. tourism event. from the main road.
SPTE is growing in both size and repu- “So the Minister appointed to look after
Tuna conditions tation – attracting more sellers and buyers this portfolio has been trying and working
AN alliance of Pacific Civil Society year on year. This year, wholesale buy- really hard to find ways in order to make
Organisations (CSOs) through a joint ers from Australia, New Zealand, North money out of this market.
communique has urged the Western and America, China and Europe and the United “His main goal is to get money out of
Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Kingdom are expected to attend. this market.”
(WCPFC), for more transparency and ac- The South Pacific Tourism Organisation The Minister Tuilaepa was referring to
countability in their processes. (SPTO), which organises the annual event, is Lautafi Selafi Purcell, the Minister of
The call from CSOs also highlights the is aiming up to 95 buyers and the same Public Enterprises.
need for better conditions for those work- number of sellers this year, with ‘Early
ing in the region’s tuna industry and more Bird Specials’ on offer for its private sec-
concerted effort towards implementing tor members.
better management plans for the Pacific’s
depleting tuna resources. Samoa tourism

Targeted focus
THE South Pacific Tourism Organisation
(SPTO) has introduced two new categories
under its Private Sector Membership Pro-
gram to target Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs) as well as youth and Tonga focus
young professionals. A New Zealand business group is in
Introducing the new categories Pacific Nuku’alofa in Tonga with its eye on invest-
Dawn and Pacific Pearl, SPTO Chief Ex- ing in the country.
ecutive Officer Chris Cocker said: “SPTO Tourism numbers in Samoa for the Sec- The delegation, led by New Zealand’s
considers Micro, Small and Medium ond Quarter of the current financial year Ambassador for Pacific Economic Devel-
Enterprises as important members be- are steady and have only increased by opment, Shane Jones, is interested in the
cause they make the bulk of our regional 1.8 per cent when compared to the same construction, health, education and tour-
tourism industry and are responsible for period in the previous financial year. ism sectors. Radio Tonga reports the New
driving economic growth in Pacific Island As was the case last year, the increase Zealand High Commissioner Sarah Walsh
Countries. On the other hand, our youth was driven by minor growths for October saying the investors are looking to see the
and young professionals are the future and December with November again be- unique business opportunities that Tonga
tourism leaders of the region. ing the slow month achieving no growth has to offer.
“The introduction of these new catego- in numbers
ries underscores SPTO’s efforts towards Holiday and VFR (visiting friends and PNG trade
greater self-sustainability and requires relatives) visitors contributed the most PAPUA New Guinea’s forestry faces
that beneficiaries take greater ownership to the overall increase in terms of overall fierce competition and pricing challenges,
by accessing essential services on a user- numbers as is the norm for the holiday Chief Executive of the Forest Industries
pay basis. season although the Business category Association, Bob Tate, told Business Ad-
This is aligned with the changes that achieved the most overall growth of 23 per vantage PNG. He said developments in
international donors and development cent driven largely by the Green Climate China are troubling for the sector.
partners are seeking for the funding sup- Fund (GCF) meeting that Samoa hosted Tate says the weakness in export mar-
port they provide towards sustainable in early December. kets ‘is mainly a function of both eco-
development initiatives.” nomic downturn in China and the Chinese
Apia Market government embarking on a program of
SPTE 2017 THE owner of Coin Save, one of the restructuring their industry.
THE South Pacific’s biggest tourism fastest growing Chinese businesses in ‘They’re closing a lot of their smaller
trade event – SPTE 2017 - will take place at Samoa, Tu’itu’ioaiga Teeking Weng, has producers, and they’re moving aggres-
the International Convention Centre (ICC) won the tender to run the $5.7 million sively into forest plantation establishment.’
in Sydney, Australia from May 18 to 20. Vaitele Market. Tate says China is expanding its range
This will be immediately after the Aus- And the Chinese chief from Falevao of bamboo products, which is proving to
tralian Tourism Exchange, which is being is expected to make the government a be very successful.

Islands Business, FMarch 2017 35