BY MARAIA VULA
Businesses in Papua New Guinea will be a focus for the organisers of the 2014 Trade Pasifika event.
The event has been scheduled to be held from April 2 to 4 at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.
Trade Pasifika Event Co-ordinator, Inoke Bainimarama, said they did a presentation past week at the Fiji PNG Business Council Annual General Meeting to seek possible partnerships.
This, he said, was in order to secure exhibitors and buyers from Papua New Guinea.
Mr Bainimarama said: “Raising awareness in the business councils in Fiji facilitates our drive securing exhibitors from across the Pacific.
“Given PNG’s booming economic situation, they are a priority country for Trade Pasifika 2014.”
A good opportunity
Papua New Guinea High Commission first secretary, Hera Kevau, said this can be taken as an opportunity for PNG to show case what it can offer in terms of trade and investment.
“PNG as a booming economy will provide for new opportunities and will explore other unique opportunities as a market destination also this show can provide that platform,” she said.
FMF first to sign up
Recognising Trade Pasifika 2014 as an event that would develop trade leads, FMF Foods Limited has become the first exhibitor for the event.
FMF Foods group export manager, Jason Chandra, said they see this event as one that will provide the network with Pacific Island businesses.
“We envisage this will be a wonderful opportunity to foster goodwill business relationships in enhancing the richness and the diversity of highly valued Pacific products in the local trade arena, regionally and internationally,” he said.
Increasing penetration
Mr Chandra said FMF Foods had worked very hard in Pacific markets to gain brand positioning through high quality product offering at an affordable price.
“We have continuously looked at increasing market penetration and expanding markets to new areas and products,” he said.
“We have also invested great deal of time and resources to establish a “superior brand image” in our export market.”
Mr Chandra stressed the national brand strategy of “Fijian Made” had not only presented infinite potential for the domestic market but also for overseas markets.
Mereia Volavola (left) of Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO) and FMF Foods Limited group exports manager, Jason Chandra, shake hands as FMF Foods signed up as the first exhibitor for the Trade Pasifika 2014. Photo: PIPSO