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Regional Partnerships
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Under PIPSO’s partnership strategic goal, it is expected that PIPSO establish a complementary relationship with PIFS in the policies and programmes that impact on private sector development. At the same time, PIPSO is expected to provide advice and guidance to PIFS on the development of private sector policies. To fulfill the above goal, PIPSO has been involved in a number of consultation meetings and has provided views on private sector issues at various forums, committees and advisory groups. The recognition of PIPSO’s role allows it to be included at these various forums both at the regional and international level. The contribution made by PIPSO’s representatives allows assistance and funding to be directed to areas that are needed and important for private sector development in the Pacific. Second Non-State Actors (NSA) Dialogue on ‘Engaging with Non-State Actors on PACER Plus: Improving Consultations’ - 26th March 2012, Brisbane, Australia The Second NSA Dialogue was held in Brisbane at the Novotel Hotel on the 26th of March, 2012. PACER Plus Officials attended the meeting from the Forum Member countries and representatives of a range of national and regional NSAs from both the private sector and from civil society organisations. The dialogue provided an opportunity for Officials involved in the PACER Plus to brief NSAs on the content and progress of the PACER Plus negotiations. It also provided an opportunity for NSAs to discuss critical issues of interest to their members, ask questions and provide views on the goals and objectives of a free trade agreement between the Pacific islands countries, Australia and New Zealand. The Dialogue for 2012 focused particularly on ways to deepen consultations between NSAs and the national governments during the process of negotiating PACER Plus. Leading up to the meeting, PIPSO conducted a survey of the 14 NPSOs on the consultation process of PACER Plus. The result of this survey were presented at this Dialogue, which highlighted the lack of consultation and the limited knowledge of businesses on trade issues. This highlighted the need to educate and increase the knowledge and understanding of the private sector on trade issues and how to make use of existing trade agreements.
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PIPSO Granted Observer Status at the Forum Trade Officials and Forum Trade Ministers Meetings Following PIPSO’s application to PIFS, PIPSO was granted observer status at the Forum Trade Ministers meeting held on 11th May 2012, at Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands. The Decision of the Forum Trade Ministers on the admittance of PIPSO as an observer to the Forum Trade Officials and Ministers meetings subject to a number of conditions. PIPSO Granted Observer Status at the Pacific ACP (PACP) Trade Officials and Ministers Meetings Following the PACP Trade Ministers’ meeting in Nuku’alofa, Tonga on 16th-17th August 2012, the PACP Trade Ministers agreed to grant PIPSO an observer status. PIPSO’s participation as the regional private sector representative was encouraged. At the meeting the PACP Trade Officials and Ministers noted the importance of an inclusive approach to regional policy making and economic development and have acknowledged the private sector’s role in creating economic prosperity and driving opportunities for growth. EDF 11th Consultations – 11th-12th October 2012, Suva, Fiji PIPSO was invited by the EU Office in Fiji to a workshop held on 11th – 12th October to outline to all regional organisations the process regarding the 11th European Development Fund (EDF). The first consultation on the regional programming for the Pacific region was conducted on 12th October 2012. The drafting of the 11th EDF Pacific Regional Indicative Programme is expected to be completed by mid-2013 for EU approvals by the end of 2013. Further consultations with key stakeholders will be facilitated.
Pacific ACP countries, the French Pacific Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), regional and international organisations, civil society representatives, European Union (EU) and its Member States as well as development partners exchanged their perspectives on the assistance needed to support development initiatives in the Pacific region. Policy Steering Committee Meeting – 6th November 2012, Suva Fiji The PSC-SPEITT is an annual meeting to provide overall high level policy direction and advice on programme and project implementation. The PSC is set up to oversee and validate the overall direction and policy of the SPEITT programme. PIPSO is a member of this policy committee that provides advice on project implementation and how projects can be effectively implemented with tangible impact. SPEITT is an EDF Funded Programme and there are 4 projects supported under the SPEITT Programme: 1. Increasing Agriculture Commodity Trade (IACT) 2. Pacific Integration Technical Assistance Project (PITAP) 3. Trade Facilitation in Customs Cooperation (TFCC) 4. Pacific Regional Tourism Capacity Building Project (PRTCBP) 5. PIPSO receives funding under the PITAP component that is administered by PIFS.
Review of the Private Sector Dialogue Process The Forum Economic Ministers meeting in July 2012 tasked the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) to “….seek the views of the Private Sector, members and development partners on ways to improve the format and operation of the private sector dialogue with a view to implementation in 2013”.
This was also discussed in the Private Sector Dialogue in August 2012 and further on during PIPSO’s Strategic Planning Workshop in the context of PSD discussions. A number of recommendations were discussed by the members were submitted to PIFS. Secretariat of the Pacific Community - IACTMembership in IACT Technical Advisory Group Two representatives of PIPSO sit on the IACT Technical Advisory Group, which deliberates on the application from private sector enterprises for the IACT Funding. The Chair of the Advisory Group is PIPSO Board member, Sala Epa Tuioti. Public / Private Partnership Roundtable: 30th May–1st June 2012, Radisson, Denarau, Fiji The Public Private Partnership Roundtable meeting was held at the Radisson Resort from May 30th – 1st June, 2012. Representatives from local municipal councils and the private sector from eight Pacific Island Countries were present at the meeting: Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Vanuatu, PNG, Palau and Solomon Islands. In addition, two representatives from Tuvalu and Cook Islands were also present as observers. Over the three-day workshop, presentations were made by various speakers on projects that could be undertaken by the private sector in partnership with their local councils. Various examples of PPPs were also highlighted in the workshop, which included experiences from Bangladesh, Nepal and the Caribbean. A PPP Clinic was also conducted on the 2nd day of the workshop to identify how the various Pacific Island countries implement the ideas derived from the workshop in their own countries. Foire Du Pacifique, 4th–7th October 2012, Noumea, New Caledonia PIPSO facilitated the participation of private sector representatives at the above trade event. A number of companies and organisations participated at this event.
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