Australia will host two PACER Plus meetings in Brisbane next week reaffirming its support for greater economic prosperity in the region.

Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs and Foreign Affairs, Richard Marles, said the negotiation of PACER Plus provides a long-term opportunity to improve the economic growth, investment and employment outlook for Forum Island countries through closer trade and investment relations involving Australia and New Zealand.

The second Non State Actors’ Dialogue on PACER Plus, to be held on 26 March, is an opportunity for business, community and other interested non-government organisations to get an update on the negotiations and convey their views on PACER Plus.

The fourth PACER Plus officials’ meeting, to be held from 27 to 29 March, will focus on the agreed priority negotiating issues of regional labour mobility, rules of origin and customs procedures.

“Australia has committed substantial assistance to regional trade issues, including support for independent trade research on PACER Plus for each Forum Island country and the Office of the Chief Trade Adviser who assists Forum Island countries in negotiations,” Mr Marles said.

“I thank the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat for the arrangements they have put in place for these meetings in Brisbane.”

Pacific Island Forum Leaders agreed in 2009 to start PACER Plus negotiations. In addition to Australia and New Zealand, the Forum Island countries involved in the PACER Plus negotiations are: the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Media enquiries

• Parliamentary Secretary's Office: (02) 6277 4330
• Departmental Media Liaison: (02) 6261 1555