Fiji’s Attorney-General and the Minister for Industry and Trade, Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has called on fellow trade ministers from the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states to develop a unified message on trade before they meet the European Commission later this week.
As Chair of the 16th ACP Group Ministerial Trade Committee Meeting, the Minister urged the 260 delegates, representing 64 countries in the developing world, to act quickly to end the current uncertainty on a number of critical issues.
He reminded the delegates that in order to achieve to best outcome for the peoples of the ACP nations, the ministers needed to urgently address remaining issues relating to the Economic Partnership Agreement [EPA] with the EU; the European Commission’s Communication on Trade, Growth and Development; the European Commission’s negotiations with third parties; and commodity related issues.
“This is an important opportunity for ACP Trade Ministers and we must be well prepared to have constructive dialogue on key issues on trade and development with the Europeans,” he said.
The Minster particularly stressed the importance of finalising a unified position on the Economic Partnership Agreement before going into the ACP-EU Joint Ministerial Trade Committee meeting on Friday.
“I encourage all of us to put forward innovative but pragmatic solutions to resolve the outstanding issues and conclude negotiations on a Comprehensive EPA for the benefit of all. In this respect, I would like to request that at this ACP Ministerial Trade Committee Meeting all discussions and deliberations are focused with a view to forwarding pragmatic proposals to ensure that a collective and united message is put clearly across.”
The Minister is chairing the two-day deliberations of the 16th ACP Group Ministerial Trade Committee Meeting before co-chairing the ACP-EU Joint Ministerial Trade Committee meeting on Friday.
He welcomed Fiji being given the opportunity to lead the discussions. “Fiji’s chairing of the meeting demonstrates the confidence that the ACP has in a small island developing state and indeed is a testimony of the equality that exists between the ACP member countries and indeed between the different regions of the ACP family.”
ENDS