Copra trade to be revived with new Tonga-Fiji Agreement

Copra trade to be revived with new Tonga-Fiji Agreement

His Majesty’s Cabinet has approved at its meeting on Thursday 28th April, that the Tonga Government through the relevant Ministry pursue further negotiations for the Tonga/Fiji Trade Agreement.

The new Trade Agreement will allow Tongan Copra Exports to the Fiji Market by August 2011, thus revitalizing the copra industry which has been out of operation for quite a long time now. However, the agreement also extends to include other agricultural produce that would prove useful during the off season of similar produce in the Western Division of Fiji, and where the mass of tourism destination is situated.

Moreover, the agreement will benefit greatly the people of the two Niuas since the arrangements so far is for the Tongan ferry, MV ‘Otuanga’ofa, to travel to Lautoka in Fiji on a regular basis for dry docking, while at the same time, carry a certain tonnage of copra produced by the people of the two Niuas, for the Fiji market.

What is most important in these arrangements, is the fact that the copra is intended for the high demand required by Punja’s and Sons Company in Lautoka where it has its own flour mills, sugar and rice manufacturing plants.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga, Honourable Samiu Vaipulu who is heading Tonga’s delegation to the negotiation table with their Fiji counterparts, says that this is a golden opportunity for copra exporters from the Niuas since the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa will be able to travel via the Niuas on a regular basis to export copra to Fiji, and on its return journey, it will again dock in the Niuas with supplies from Fiji offered by Punjas that are far cheaper than the local market. There will be limited cost for this service because of the fact that Punjas already has its own headquarters here in Tonga with its own representative to look after Punjas order of supplies from the Niuas.

On a much bigger scale, the opportunity will extend to include other products such as watermelons, pineapples from Vava’u, Tongan handicrafts to name only a few of the many products that will be offered following the completion of a quarantine agreement between the two countries that will relieve the tough requirements of the current arrangements with Fiji. Fiji’s current export to Tonga far outweighs what it imports from Tonga, and the agreement will gradually improve this major imbalance.

Government Of The Kingdom Of Tonga

Honourable Samiu Vaipulu has further indicated that the early favorable resolution of the bio-security barriers impeding the export of Tongan agricultural produce could boost Tongan exports thereby helping to reduce the enormous trade deficit between the two countries. The ‘Fumigation Work Plan’ being developed is possible to cover many products, probably up to 13 products from Tonga.

The Deputy Prime Minister further states that he assumes that the first shipment of copra from the Niuas can begin as early as August of this year.

ENDS