Trade ministers from Pacific Islands Forum countries started their two-day meeting in Port Villa, capital of the Pacific country of Vanuatu, Thursday with the focus on promoting regional development.
Forum Secretary General Greg Urwin said trade and more broadly economic growth must be a key driver for the development in the region.
He urged all Forum members to grasp the opportunities of global economic prosperity to bring a number of the region's various trade agreements to a full and productive life.
"In a time of relative global prosperity, the Pacific as a region stands to gain much should it be able to capitalize on emerging opportunities that are presented by the opening of markets to trade in goods and services," Urwin said at the opening of the meeting.
He said the Forum Secretariat will fully support members in their discussions related to The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations, or PACER, under the Pacific Plan.
The Pacific Plan is a scheme adopted by leaders of the members in 2005, which is a strategic road map to push forward regionalism, cooperation and sustainable development.
Vanuatu Prime Minister Ham Lini Vanuaroro officially opened the meeting which is attended by trade ministers from the 16 member countries.
In his opening speech, Vanuaroro called for more services liberalization in the region, urging Australia to accept temporary seasonal workers from developing Pacific countries.
Australia has refused to give any special immigration or guest worker status to the South Pacific countries, arguing that this will compromise its non-discriminatory immigration policy.
Source: Xinhua
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