NZ to suggest single Pacific economy
Updated
New Zealand's Pacific island affairs minister, Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, is expected to call for closer economic ties between Pacific states at the forum trade meeting in Cook Islands today.
She says the meeting will be an opportunity for forum members to make progress towards a single economic market in the Pacific.
The two-day meeting of trade leaders and officials from around the Pacific will be chaired by Cook Islands foreign minister, Wilkie Rasmussen.
Cook Island News reports that senior officials from forum islands countries will be continuing negotiations for a trade in services agreement.
Ms Laban, who will be representing New Zealand, says it is timely to be discussing trade and economic integration in the Pacific, as the price of food and fuel continues to rise.
