The Labasa Sugar Mill....Fiji is to host ACP Ministerial conference this year, the second major international sugar conference to be held here in 2013 Photo: LOSIRENE CHAND
By PITA LIGAIULA of PACNEWS
Brussels- Fiji will host the 13th ACP Ministerial Conference on Sugar this year as a result of the withdrawal by Zambia of their offer due to circumstances beyond their control.
This was revealed by the chairman of the ACP Subcommittee on Sugar, Ambassador Patrick Gomes of Guyana at the 5th Meeting of the ACP Ministerial Committee on Sugar held Monday in Brussels.
Ambassador Gomes said Sudan was also approached as they had expressed an interest at the recent Malabo meeting in Equatorial Guinea. However, Sudan was not ready to host the conference this year.
He said Fiji’s offer was welcomed by the ACP Subcommittee on Sugar.
Mr Gomes told the meeting the date of the Conference in Fiji will be from 14 – 18 October 2013.
The proposed theme for the conference is ‘The Evolving Policy Environment for the ACP Cane Industry’.
Mr Gomes has urged ACP Ministers to participate in the conference which is being convened at a very critical time and is expected to address key issues as ACP strive to place “our respective industries on a stronger footing to face the uncertain future.”
Fiji’s Ambassador to Brussels, Peceli Vocea told the meeting that Fiji stands ready to host the conference.
“Mr Chairman I just wish to say that the Fiji Government is looking forward to host the upcoming ACP Ministerial Sugar Meeting in October. It will do its part to ensure the meeting is an effective and a productive one,” Mr Vocea told ACP Ministers
Mr Gomes said he fully support Fiji’s hosting the Sugar Conference.
“We really need to see that with support that we have from the ACP Secretariat and the commercial representatives could also fund the participation of our technical people for a very successful conference in Fiji in October,” Mr Gomes told PACNEWS.