Exotic products at weekend’s Pacific Trade Show in Auckland

Media Release For immediate publication/ broadcast – 2 April 2019

Exotic products at weekend’s Pacific Trade Show in Auckland

Forty companies from ten Pacific Island countries will display and sell their wares at a one-day trade show at The Cloud on Auckland’s waterfront on Saturday 6 April.

The ‘Path to the Pacific Trade Show’ features a wide range of sectors from food & beverage and handicraft to jewellery, fashion, nutraceuticals, clothing & garments and much more.

Ginger that’s making waves worldwide, organic jams and coconut soap from Fiji; rare gems and stunning handicrafts from the Solomon Islands; fashion, bilum weaves, coffee and baskets from Papua New Guinea; jewellery, garments and tapa art are only some of the products that will be on show on Saturday.

Hosted by New Zealand-based Pacific Trade Invest (PTI NZ), the economic development agency of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the trade show is part of PTI NZ’s Path to Market programme – an export capability building initiative for Pacific Island companies to export into New Zealand, helping boost employment and entrepreneurship in the islands.

“This year’s event is different from our previous years’ expos in that it is a standalone event indoors with seminars, entertainment and food. We encourage Aucklanders to bring their families along for a diverse and exciting day at The Cloud,” Michael Greenslade, PTI NZ Trade & Investment Commissioner said.

Previous expos were held along with other Pacific events like the Pasifika Festival.

“As well as the 40 Pacific Island companies, some 20 of our stakeholders who actively work with the Pacific Islands will also be present at the event,” Mr Greenslade added.

Ian Furlong, PTI NZ Trade Development Manager said, “This is a great opportunity for New Zealand businesses to view first-hand Pacific products that are aimed at the New Zealand market and meet the people behind these businesses personally to explore potential deals.

“So, if you are a business interested in distribution and selling, this is an opportunity to get involved and see 40 businesses all under one roof.”

The event, which is free for all to attend, will run from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, 6 April.

The Pacific Island delegation will also participate in other aspects of the multi-staged PTI NZ Path to Market programme during their five-day stay in Auckland like meeting with potential buyers and distributors, site visits, gap analyses workshops besides other activities designed to facilitate exports into New Zealand.

“With the cancellation of Pasifika and the final day of Polyfest, Saturday’s Path to the Pacific may well be the only Pacific event pre-Easter that incorporates business, entertainment, seminars and food,” Mr Greenslade said. (Ends)

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Also attached: List of participating companies with weblinks to their profiles.

Media meet-up opportunity:

The delegates will be available to meet with media at the Mahurehure Marae, 65-73 Premier Ave, Point Chevalier, Auckland 1022 between 10-11am on Friday, 5 April. PTI NZ Trade & Investment Commissioner Michael Greenslade will also be available then for interviews.

Media are also invited to the Saturday event where they can view the products and interact with the delegates as well as customers.

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About Pacific Trade Invest

Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) is the economic development agency of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, engaged in trade and investment in Pacific Island Forum Countries including the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The PTI Network has offices in New Zealand, Australia, China, Japan and Switzerland.

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About the Path to Market Programme

Path to Market is Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) New Zealand’s multi-staged export capability development programme. It incorporates multiple steps starting with the Pacific Island based capacity building workshop; linking to local Economic Development Agency (EDA) partners and identification and selection of potential export companies for a trade mission to New Zealand, Market testing at a trade show in New Zealand (such as the Path to the Pacific Trade Show this week in Auckland), Gap Analysis workshop and business-to-business meetings. More than 700 participants have been through the PTI NZ Path to Market programme that has drawn praise from the International Trade Centre.

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