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Opinion Opinion

The renewed negotiations can therefore focus on these integration.
specific issues with targeted outputs. It has to be made clear Another concern raised is the need to enjoy the security of
at the start that new improved agreed texts should be merged the market access provided for by the agreement. Essentially,
onto previous texts to benefit all PICs, parties to the negotia- this is an oblique reference to unsupervised and unjustified
tions, including those who earlier signed the then existing non-tariff barriers (NTBs) imposed by the importing markets,
agreement. ANZ in this case. On the plus side, it has to be said that both
The various issues raised by Fiji, if addressed fairly and ob- ANZ are ably addressing this matter through provisions of
jectively, can result in greater economic integration amongst relevant systematic processes and training of PIC exporters
PIF members and offer more solid bases of economic growth with joint ANZ-funding provided for under the PACER Plus for
and development. The infant industry clause, for instance, Aid for Trade. Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market
can be improved through strategic choices of industry to be Access (PHAMA), an initiative by ANZ, is leading the charge on
protected and with appropriate liberalisation timelines. this matter.
The mandatory ‘most favoured nation’ (MFN) clause can In the first place, Fiji’s concerns were about the lack of
also be subjected to concession and derogation. As it is, the balance and the loss of policy space for PICs in the texts of
MFN clause requires that any concession obtained by a party the PACER Plus agreement at that time. If improvements, as
to an agreement would necessarily apply to the other party. discussed above, are finally incorporated into the legal texts,
However, this can be avoided through a waiver. The waiver, they would certainly render the agreement a more consolidat-
for instance, could be formulated to say that the MFN clause ed basis for determined regional economic integration. Pacific
(on the PICs’ side) will only apply to concessions obtained regionalism would then grow from strength to strength. It,
from developed countries or a group of developed countries. moreover, would be better placed to address its inherent
It will not apply to concessions obtained from developing or disunities and contradictions. The flow-on effects from there
least developed countries or a group of these countries. would have positive implications on multilateralism and on
Fiji was also not happy with the provision on Labour Mobil- PIF’s/PICs’ agency in the global scheme of things.
ity. As it is, Fiji believes that it is really nothing to write home
about. Merely providing a forum for annual talkfests is hardly The author is a former Fijian Ambassador and Foreign
the stuff for considered and enhanced regional economic Minister and runs his own consultancy company in Suva, Fiji.
AUSTRALIA APPOINTS ITS FIRST INDIGENOUS

PERSON AS CONSUL-GENERAL

Australia first Indigenous Consul-General, Benson Saulo
says he’s keen to share Australia’s Indigenous culture and
connecting with First Nations businesses and leaders in the
US as part of his trade and investment promotion duties.
Thirty-two-year old Saulo, a descendent of the Wemba
Wemba and Gunditjmara Aboriginal nations of Western
Victoria and the New Ireland Province of Papua New Guinea,
will take up the position later this year in Houston, Texas.
Saulo is the first Indigenous person appointed to the Con-
sul-General role anywhere in the world, although Australia financial services and independent and assisted living mutual
has previously appointed Indigenous people as Ambassadors organisation.
and Heads of Mission through Australia’s Department of Saulo applied for the position of Consul-General at the end
Foreign Affairs. of 2019.
His role will be to strengthen the trade and investment “It was competitive process. However, Austrade has a
relationship between Australia and the United States strong commitment to developing a diverse and inclusive
through business, cultural and diplomatic relationships. workforce that reflects the diversity of Australia.
“An area that I am particularly passionate about,” he He says his wife, Kate – a Doctor in Clinical and Forensic
told Islands Business, “is sharing our Indigenous culture to Psychology – and their six-month-old daughter are excited
the world, and connecting with First Nations businesses and about going to Houston.
leaders in the US. There are a lot of opportunities for shar- “Her name is Anaïs Ramo Saulo. The name Ramo is from
ing and learning from other First Nation peoples across the my grandmother’s side on the West Coast of New Ireland. It
world.” is an old name that hasn’t been used for a few generations.
Rising from a somewhat humble career start as a bank My wife and I felt strongly that our daughter would carry the
teller with the ANZ in the northern New South Wales town name of my father’s land. My middle name Igua is from Nei-
of Tamworth, Benson went on to become a business analyst konomon on New Hanover, which is my grandfather’s land.
in the Indigenous employment and training team at ANZ. “My mum was a little hesitant of us going when she re-
In 2017, he joined Australian Unity, a national healthcare, alised that our daughter may return with a Texan accent.”

Islands Business, July 2020 33