The Minister for Foreign Affairs International Cooperation, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola will attend the Pacific ACP (PACP) meeting in Apia, which will be attended by the region’s top trade officials, experts and ministers.
Ratu Inoke said the meeting would deliberate on key issues surrounding negotiations with the European Union on a fair and comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Solo Mara is already in Samoa.
Mr Mara represented Fiji as trade officials began discussions, which will form the basis for advice to Pacific ACP Trade Ministers, who meet later in the week.
With the exception of the Caribbean, which has signed a comprehensive EPA with the EU, ACP regions are facing difficulties in concluding negotiations across the board.
The Pacific ACP Trade Ministers last met in June 2009 in Apia.
Trade officials and ministers will also discuss regional trade issues related to engagement with the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Aid for Trade and developments under the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA).
The Pacific ACP Trade Ministers meeting begins in Apia this Thursday following the three-day meeting of Pacific ACP officials.
Pacific ACP countries are a grouping of the Pacific Islands Forum’s countries, encompassing the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Republic of Marshall Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, that are members of the ACP Group.