BY LORETTA B MANELE

It is vital for people to know about PACER Plus and what it can do for them.

Roy Lagolago, head of the Samoa-based PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) expressed this at the first day of the 8th meeting of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus Joint Committee at Mendana Hotel yesterday.

He stressed that it is important whether a farmer in the outer Malaita province or from any of the outer islands know about PACER Plus or not and what PACER Plus can do for them.

Lagolago stressed that without our people trading, PACER Plus is just another agreement.

In relation, he emphasised that people need to be aware that they as government officials are providing them with opportunities to discover the world and not just here in the Pacific.

“And I think this is an important reflection for us.

Look at the opportunities for our people, look at where we want to go to next.”

Moreover, Lagolago said they all feel what happens across the world and that is, sometimes, leaders across the other side of the world don’t realise we exist.

He added that this is where as people and communities, as PACER Plus, we are really resilient and able to withstand the challenges thrown at us.

“And we continue to do so and PACER Plus gives us that opportunity to provide the opportunities for our people, for our communities.”

He said this is something they should continue to reflect on as they deliberate more in the coming days.

It is understood that the meeting is attended by representatives from Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu and will focus on reviewing progress under the PACER Plus agreement, including updates on the implementation of the 2024-2025 annual work plan.

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