Page 26 - IB APR 2017

The Region
Pacific exports increase

by Dennis Rounds
A RECENTLY published Pacific Islands
Exports Survey has found that business
confidence among Pacific Island exporters
has increased since 2014 with a growth in
actual export numbers despite a decline in
export destinations.
Commissioned by Pacific Trade Invest-
ment (PTI) Australia and conducted by
ACA Research of North Sydney with
Australian aid-funding, the Pacific Islands
Export Survey 2016 is an important win-
dow into the activities and opinions of
exporters from the Pacific Islands.
The report is currently the only major
survey of internationally active Pacific
Island businesses and is based on data Forum Secretary-General Dame Meg Taylor Photo: File
from Pacific Island export companies from
12 island countries, operating in over 30 Forum delegation strengthens China cooperation
international markets.
The survey reported the following key PACIFIC Islands Forum delegation to The delegation was also encour-
findings: China in mid-March returned with a aged by the President of the Asian
• Export confidence is very positive and commitment from China’s Minister Infrastructure Investment Bank
continues to grow with three in four busi- for foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, that his (AIIB), Jin Liqun, to prompt Pacific
nesses predicting that their export orders country will work with the Forum Island Countries to join the new
will increase over the next 12 months. on important issues such as climate AIIB to pursue economic develop-
• Exporters still face numerous barri- change and support for economic ment.
ers. A major challenge for exporters is development. In Guangzhou, capital of the
obtaining finance/capital with two in three The Forum delegation was led by South China province of Guang-
exporters stating this as a concern, this is- Secretary General, Dame Meg Taylor, dong, the delegation met with
sue is more prevalent for newer exporters. and met with Chinese Government leaders of key agencies of the
• Although the total volume of exports officials and the key stakeholders in Guangdong Provincial Government
has grown from the 2014 survey, the the South China province of Guang- and proposed a framework coopera-
number of countries exported to has dong. tion agreement for more regular
decreased. In a meeting with the Director of dialogue, exchange and programmes
PTI Australia trade commissioner, Ca- China’s State Oceanic Administra- to strengthen economic, education,
leb Jarvis, says the survey provides an tion, Wang Hong, it was agreed to cultural and other ties, to be devel-
important snapshot of exporters from the cooperate in developing practical oped this year.
Pacific Islands where there is a lack of projects for the development of sus- q Source: Pacific Islands Forum
private sector data. tainable fisheries and aquaculture. Secretariat
“It’s extremely valuable to have these
results which builds upon findings from investments. sector in the Pacific will be a catalyst for
the inaugural 2014 survey. We can now The Forum Secretariat maintains PTI equitable economic development and a
start to track trends in the industry and offices in Australia, China, Japan, New driver for deeper regionalism,” Dame Meg
this data assists both private sector and Zealand and Switzerland. Taylor said.
Governments to make informed decisions Forum Secretary General, Dame Meg “Our business community is growing
on how to stimulate growth in the export Taylor, welcomed the survey results given every day. Its commitment to entering
sector,” Jarvis said. the past practice of relying on anecdotal emerging and non-traditional markets is
Pacific Trade Invest is an agency of the data to analyse Pacific business partici- impressive and will drive further economic
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat with pation in global trade and regional value integration and development.”
the objective of increasing the volume chains. n Source: Pacific Islands Forum
and value of Pacific Island exports and “I am optimistic that a stronger private Secretariat

26 Islands Business, April 2017