The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and development partners are mobilising support for the Pacific Aid for Trade Strategy (PAfTS) 2020-2025.
The secretariat considers PAfTS key to identifying and implementing core trade priorities for the Pacific region.
“We acknowledge the valuable contribution of development partners and thank them for their participation in the face of challenges posed by COVID-19,” said Dame Meg Taylor, secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum.
“We look forward to collaboration and co-ordination as we implement PAfTS in the coming five years,” Ms Dame-Meg said in a statement.
She said the PAfTS 2020-2025 was guided by four principles: strategic regional impact, prioritisation, leveraging existing policies and mechanisms; and ownership.
“In line with these guiding principles, the strategy focuses on mobilising aid for trade resources for projects in the four thematic priority areas of services; electronic commerce; comprehensive connectivity and deepening Forum markets.”
Director of programs and initiatives Zarak Khan said the strategy would draw from, and contribute to national-level trade development, aimed to achieve the relevant 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) around deepening regional economic integration.
The roundtable was an opportunity for development partners to provide an overview on existing work done prior to the endorsement of the 2020-2025 strategy, and challenges currently being experienced in forum island countries in the implementation of their respective programs.
A consultative virtual teleconference roundtable with development partners was held on April 22, as an initial step.
