BY INDY MAEALASIA

THE United Arab Emirates (UAE) is seeking to sign a comprehensive economic partnership agreement, known as SEPA, with the Pacific Islands Forum countries.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele voiced his support for the proposal following his return from the UAE on Sunday.

Manele noted that the Solomon Islands, together with Fiji and Papua New Guinea, will lead consultations with PIF countries at the upcoming Ministers of Trade Meeting to convene in Fiji, in two weeks’ time.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade will be our lead ministry,” Manele explained.

 “I will be speaking with the minister to ensure our people with expertise in these areas, including the Director of Trade, our heads of missions in Suva and Beijing, are involved in the process. Our goal is to expedite the completion of the SEPA, which we aim to sign during the Forum meeting in Honiara this September.”

Manele also mentioned that work is ongoing on the Solomon Islands-United Arab Emirates agreement, which will be incorporated into the SEPA.

This agreement, too, is expected to be signed at the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in September.

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