2016 Pacific Business Forum Opens in New Caledonia

November 4, 2016

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Noumea, New Caledonia – The sun sets in Noumea as Day One of the Pacific Business Forum drew to a close after a full day of presentations and targeted business meetings. Ms Cherifa Linossier, President of the CGPME NC, officially welcomed over 350 participants from more than 10 countries around the region this morning. The attendees from Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, New Zealand and Australia, are in New Caledonia this week for the 3-day Forum. CGPME NC is the official representative body of SMEs in New Caledonia and is also PIPSO’s newest member.

Daniel Gradwell of ANZ, Shiu Raj of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and our very own Alisi Tuqa presented in the morning. Additionally, country snapshots of New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Fiji and Samoa were presented by AVEX, CGME FP and UNDP. Daniel honed in on 3 key points: weakening currencies, commodity prices and changing demographic structures in Asia and China, while Shiu discussed the different trading agreements that exist in the Pacific as well as the need for the region to be working more closely and efficiently together. Alisi showed the attendees a glimpse of the business landscape in the Pacific and shared PIPSO’s strategic direction in the next 4 years, mainly in support of MSMEs and the continued drive of our organisation to enhance the competitiveness and growth of all Pacific businesses.

The whole afternoon was dedicated to Targeted Business Meetings (TBMs) which split the group into four where each explored the issues and ideas pertaining to Pacific industries in Tourism, Maritime, Agriculture and business development in the Pacific French Territories. Day one concluded with New Caledonia businesses showcasing their local products to the participants.

Jeremy Rifkin, an acclaimed and bestselling author of 20 books on the impact of technological changes on the economy and the environment, will open the floor tomorrow morning via video conference.