Vanuatu is building on the participation of its skin care and food companies in recent Australian trade shows to increase awareness of its products and increase exports to Australia.
The Pacific Trade & Invest (PT&I) Office in Sydney and Vanuatu Trade Commissioner Donald Pelam are in Vanuatu this week to meet with a number of exporters across the country. The visit is in collaboration with the government of Vanuatu organised through the Trade Commissioner Mr Pelam who is currently based at the Sydney PT&I office.
“We’ve recently had one of our skin care companies exhibit for the first time at the Sydney Beauty Expo 2016. Another three food exporters showcasing at the Fine Food Fair 2016 in Melbourne in September this year. Other value added products have also started to enter the Australian market for the first time this year, so these opportunities are encouraging to give confidence to our industries in Vanuatu,” Mr Pelam said.
PT&I’s Sydney-based Export Services Manager Teremoana Mato said, “The visit will discuss some of the market opportunities in the Australian market and an opportunity to provide feedback on some of the market challenges with Vanuatu exports and how best we can help address some of these challenges.”
Mr Pelam and Mr Mato are in Vanuatu until the end of the week.
The Government of Vanuatu is encouraging export industries to move from traditional exports to value adding. Some of these value added products are already starting to gather momentum in the marketplace.
“It is important that we maintain these connections with buyers and distributors in the marketplace therefore it’s important to keep tabs with our exporters and our industries. My role in Sydney is to provide a facilitation role for a direct link between the exporter and importer by utilising the network opportunities provided by PT&I in Sydney.”
The pair will also make a courtesy call to the relevant government ministries and private sector organisations while in Vanuatu this week.
PT&I works to create employment in the Pacific Islands through enhancing the competitiveness, value and promotion of Pacific companies across international markets, as part of its economic development initiative.
PT&I’s Mona Mato, Oxfam’s Julia Summer and Sarah with Donald Pelam at the opening of the Oxfam Australia store in Sydney. Mr Mato and Mr Pelam are in Vanuatu this week.