The comments were made by Mrs Sovaia Marawa, MSG Secretariat’s Manager, Trade & Economic Development Programme, on behalf of Director General, Leonard Louma, during Vanuatu’s 1st National Workshop on the MSG Green Trade Project at the Grand Hotel in Port Vila earlier today.
Mrs Marawa noted that in 2015, MSG Leaders embraced the formulation of Sustainable Development Plans as captured in the MSG 2038 Prosperity for All Plan.
“At the heart of MSG Leaders Declaration on Environment, Climate Change and Green Growth Goals lies the endorsement of 4 strategic goals. Goal 4 is aimed at “promoting sustainable business opportunities” through the adoption of MSG Green Growth strategy for MSG businesses,” she stated.
Additionally, the systematic collection and classification of regulatory measures into groups of non-tariff measures (NTMs) would assist MSG to better understand how these regulatory measures on health, food safety and environmental protection are closely related to capacity to export.
In turn, it will help the Members achieve better inter-ministerial collaboration. Members can then use the same methodology of collating NTM’s trade regulations to guide other priority export products including the development of Export Guides.
The MSG Secretariat acknowledged the support of UNCTAD’s assistance towards the MSG Green Trade Project, with the assistance of Vanuatu’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade and Department of Industry within the Ministry of Tourism, Trade, Commerce & Ni-Vanuatu Business.
Vanuatu Director of External Trade, Joe Pakoa Lui said while coconut oil is one of Vanuatu’s main exports, it is important for participants to consider the diversification of the product to benefit farmers in rural economies as well as to take ownership of the UNCTAD- MSG Green Trade Project.
UNCTAD representative, Mr. Ralf Peters, emphasised that transparency is an important element to ensure that trade regulations are met by exporters and that trade runs smoothly, noting that it can reduce trade costs by 25 per cent, particularly for exporters.
UNCTAD implements the MSG Green Trade Project, which is expected to strengthen MSG sub-regional integration by supporting the Secretariat's Trade and Economic Development programme.
Caption: Participants of Vanuatu's 1st National Workshop on the MSG Green Trade Project.
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