The New Zealand Government is to provide 1.4 million US dollars for the establishment of the office of chief trade advisor to support Pacific Forum island countries in the PACER Plus trade negotiations.
PACER Plus is a proposed comprehensive free trade and economic development agreement that will be negotiated by Forum members, except Fiji, which is suspended from the Forum.
The office of chief trade advisor will operate separately from the Forum secretariat to ensure independence.
The office is to provide the island countries with the technical skills to negotiate terms with Australia and New Zealand, who want to broaden an existing regional free trade agreement.
The New Zealand funding is for three years.
