For almost 15 years, under the flagship Aid for Trade Hub and Spokes (H&S) Programme, Pacific Island countries received critical trade support from advisers deployed across the region to support both national and regional trade agendas.
Following the programme closure in mid-2019, beneficiaries across the Pacific rallied for the retention of technical support to meet the growing demand for effective implementation of trade agreements in the region.
A transition phase, co-funded by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and The Commonwealth, has since seen trade advisers deployed to the PIFS headquarters in Suva, Fiji to ensure Pacific Island Forum Members receive the lucrative benefits of the trade agreements negotiated in the H&S programme.
Initially proposed as part of an exit strategy to fill an anticipated gap in implementation of trade projects, the provision of technical trade advisory and support services saw the advisers work to integrate elements of the successful H&S programme into the Secretariat. However, following the extraordinary circumstances amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, technical assistance to PIFS was extended to 31 December 2021, with trade support critical to boost the Pacific region’s resilience and recovery from the impact of the pandemic.
Speaking about the importance of the project, Paulo Kautoke, Senior Director, Trade, Oceans and National Resources Directorate at The Commonwealth said:
“Strengthening trade development capacities in the Pacific remains a priority for The Commonwealth and ensuring the uninterrupted provision of services to our Member States during these difficult times has been imperative to this. Utilizing the institutional knowledge of those advisers involved in previous trade projects and negotiations has been significant in supporting the region to focus on implementation of trade agreements that will further integrate the Pacific into the global economy.”
Despite these difficulties, trade advisers have played an active role in supporting implementation steps for regional and multi-lateral trade agreements, including the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER-Plus), Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) and Pacific Aid-for-Trade Strategy.
Ongoing support has been provided to develop road maps and strategies for implementation, along with provision of technical inputs on trade and fisheries to negotiations in Brussels for the Pacific Regional Protocol. Nationally, advisers also supported relevant member country institutions to develop position papers and to coordinate national and regional positions. Examples include supporting Tonga’s first comprehensive trade strategy, the Tonga Trade Policy Framework, and developing Nauru’s Foreign Direct Investment Law.
Various capacity building initiatives were also developed by the advisers at the national and regional levels, including hosting the first Trade Finance Symposium and numerous Regional Trade Facilitation Workshops, initiating the first PIFS Trade Publication, and creating a Trade Policy Framework Depository. Much of this work was supported virtually amidst the pandemic and alongside connectivity issues across the geographically dispersed Pacific – a feat acknowledged specifically at the Forum Trade Ministers’ Meeting.
At the end of 2021, PIFS subsequently reported that it was planning to roll out a trade programme modelled on H&S.
Zarak Khan, Director of Programmes and Initiatives at PIFS said:
“The Hub and Spokes Programme is a practical example of broadening the scope of traditional Aid for Trade by creating an absorption method for institutions within the ACP through transfer of skills and knowledge. Without a shadow of doubt the PIFS and the Pacific benefitted immensely from the deployment of Trade Advisers between 2014 and 2018. The programme benefitted Forum Island Countries in developing their national trade capacity building, development and implementation of trade policies, such as Trade Policy Frameworks of almost all FICs.
Another milestone of the programme is that a number of trade officials are currently heading their national trade departments, posted as Ambassadors and Counsellors to their Permanent Missions and Embassies, including negotiating regional and international trade agreements. We are also pleased to announce that one of the Advisers was successfully recruited into the SPIRIT Programme - a sign of the great partnership and mutual trust between both Secretariats. We look forward to continuing the strong partnership with The Commonwealth in driving trade in the region, and are certain that this will not be the last partnership on enhancing trade capacity.”
From May 2019, two Commonwealth trade advisers were deployed to PIFS, based in Suva, Fiji – Fredrick Kamusiime and Jillatieno Juma. One adviser departed in September 2020, with remaining support provided until 31 December 2021. On 27 January 2022, the European Union and PIFS signed a new EU Pacific Trade Capacity project, with the deployment of long term advisers across the region. The Commonwealth’s trade division continues to work closely with PIFS on various projects, and looks forward to collaborating with advisers deployed under the new EU project across the region
Media contact
- Rena Gashumba Communications Adviser, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
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