PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 2:30 PM by Luigi

New On-line database to boost Pacific businesses

From Pacnews

A new on-line database launched this week should open up more opportunities for small businesses in the Pacific Islands to reach global markets.

Pacificbizonline.com, a joint initiative by the Pacific Cooperation Foundation and the Pacific Trade & Investment Commission NZ was officially launched in Wellington by Fiji’s High Commissioner to New Zealand.

Mr Ram said the on-line database would be a dynamic marketing tool that would be particularly useful to many of the small and medium enterprises of 16 Pacific Island countries by listing all their products, services and contact details on-line.

Mr Ram said there was an increasing imbalance in trade between New Zealand and the Pacific Islands and to a large extent the Pacific relied on special trade preferences and ODA to survive.

“Hopefully, with this new and innovative “information gateway” now at their disposal with minimal cost, these SME’s would be able to reach potential markets beyond their shores, thereby expand their trade and related enterprises with ease and speed. This in turn would be able to generate and expand their revenue and profits and create much needed employment in the 16 countries. The website would thus provide a useful means to address many of the economic, social and other problems faced by the PIC’s.”

The joint venture between PCF and PITIC NZ also promoted the aims and objectives of the Pacific Plan to promote economic growth and sustainable development in the Pacific Mr Ram said.

The searchable database allows Pacific businesses, related Government departments, industry and sector organisations to log on, complete their business details and register free of charge. Once listed they can later update their information as circumstances change 24/7.

Samoa Trade Commissioner Va'atu'itu'i Apete Meredith said the proximity to markets had always posed a challenge for the Pacific to contact or promote products and services cost effectively to overseas markets.

“In this day and age….it is vital that our businesses in the Pacific are and can be accessed through these modern tools of communication namely the internet,” he said.

The “Pacificbizonline.com” Project was therefore developed specifically to offer such an opportunity for businesses & commercial or trade organisations in the Pacific, to have some of their basic information registered ‘online’ so that they could be readily accessed by importers and potential importers in New Zealand and around the world.

Mr Meredith encouraged the private sector to make full use of the http://Pacificbizonline.com website as a means to further promote Pacific Island products and services.



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This weblog documents the activities of Pacific Agricultural Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN), along with other information on plant genetic resources (PGR) in the Pacific. The myriad varieties found within cultivated plants are fundamental to the present and future productivity of agriculture. PAPGREN, which is coordinated by the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), helps Pacific countries and territories to conserve their crop genetic diversity sustainably, with technical assistance from the Bioversity International (BI) and support from NZAID and ACIAR. SPC also hosts the Centre of Pacific Crops and Trees (CEPaCT). The CEPaCT maintains regional in vitro collections of crops important to the Pacific and carries out research on tissue culture technology. The CEPaCT Adviser is Dr Mary Taylor (MaryT@spc.int), the CEPaCT Curator is Ms Valerie Tuia (ValerieT@spc.int). PAPGREN coordination and support IPGRI ACIAR NZAID CTA SPC PAPGREN CEPaCT Click on the thumbnail to see a map of the locations of Pacific genebanks. Click here to download a regional directory of genebanks in the Pacific, including information on their location, contact details and holdings. PAPGREN partners Mr William Wigmore Director of Research Ministry of Agriculture Department of Resources & Development P.O. Box 96 Rarotonga Cook Islands Tel: (682) 28711-29720 Fax: (682) 21881 Email: cimoa@oyster.net.ck Mr Adelino S. Lorens Chief Agriculture Pohnpei Office of Economic Affairs P.O. Box 1028 Kolonia Pohnpei 96941 Federated States of Micronesia Tel: (691) 3202400 Fax: (691) 3202127 Email: pniagriculture@mail.fm Dr Lois Englberger Island Food Community of Pohnpei Research Advisor P.O. Box 2299 Kolonia Pohnpei 96941 Federated States of Micronesia Email: nutrition@mail.fm Mr Apisai Ucuboi Director of Research Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forest Koronivia Research Station P.O. Box 77 Nausori Fiji Islands Tel: (679) 3477044 Fax: (679) 3477546-400262 Email: apisainu@yahoo.com Dr Maurice Wong Service du Developpement Rural B.P. 100 Papeete Tahiti 98713 French Polynesia Tel: (689) 42 81 44 Fax: (689) 42 08 31 Email: maurice.wong@rural.gov.pf Mr Tianeti Beenna Ioane Head, Research Section Division of Agriculture Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development P.O. Box 267 Tarawa Kiribati Tel: (686) 28096-28108-28080 Fax: (686) 28121 Email : agriculture@tskl.net.ki; Beenna_ti@yahoo.com Mr Frederick Muller Secretary Ministry of Resources & Development P.O. Box 1727 Majuro 96960 Marshall Islands Tel: (692) 6253206 Fax: (692) 6257471 Email: rndsec@ntamar.net Mr Herman Francisco Director Bureau of Agriculture Ministry of Resources & Development P.O. Box 460 Koror 96940 Palau Tel: (680) 4881517 Fax: (680) 4881725 Email: bnrd@pnccwg.palaunet.com Ms Rosa Kambuou Principal Scientist PGR NARI Dry Lowlands Programme Laloki Agricultural Research Station P.O. 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Box 14 Nuku'alofa Tonga Tel: (676) 23038 Fax: (676) 24271 Email: thaangana@hotmail.com Mr Frazer Bule Lehi Head of Research Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Private Mail Bag 040 Port Vila Vanuatu Tel: (678) 22525 Fax: (678) 25265 Email: flehi@hotmail.com Other links Other CROP agencies Forum Secretariat University of the South Pacific SPREP Pacific biodiversity Biodiversity hotspots Breadfruit Institute Hawaiian native plants Intellectual property rights Nature Conservancy PBIF PestNet SIDS WWF South Pacific Program Other Pacific organizations Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific Micronesian Seminar Te Puna web directory Pacific news Cafe Pacific CocoNET Wireless Island Directory Pacific Islands News Pacific Islands Report Pacific Islands Travel Pacific Time South Pacific travel Time Pacific Interested in GIS? DIVA-GIS	Sunday, November 26, 2006 Posted 2:30 PM by Luigi New On-line database to boost Pacific businesses From Pacnews A new on-line database launched this week should open up more opportunities for small businesses in the Pacific Islands to reach global markets. Pacificbizonline.com, a joint initiative by the Pacific Cooperation Foundation and the Pacific Trade & Investment Commission NZ was officially launched in Wellington by Fiji’s High Commissioner to New Zealand. Mr Ram said the on-line database would be a dynamic marketing tool that would be particularly useful to many of the small and medium enterprises of 16 Pacific Island countries by listing all their products, services and contact details on-line. Mr Ram said there was an increasing imbalance in trade between New Zealand and the Pacific Islands and to a large extent the Pacific relied on special trade preferences and ODA to survive. “Hopefully, with this new and innovative “information gateway” now at their disposal with minimal cost, these SME’s would be able to reach potential markets beyond their shores, thereby expand their trade and related enterprises with ease and speed. This in turn would be able to generate and expand their revenue and profits and create much needed employment in the 16 countries. The website would thus provide a useful means to address many of the economic, social and other problems faced by the PIC’s.” The joint venture between PCF and PITIC NZ also promoted the aims and objectives of the Pacific Plan to promote economic growth and sustainable development in the Pacific Mr Ram said. The searchable database allows Pacific businesses, related Government departments, industry and sector organisations to log on, complete their business details and register free of charge. Once listed they can later update their information as circumstances change 24/7. Samoa Trade Commissioner Va'atu'itu'i Apete Meredith said the proximity to markets had always posed a challenge for the Pacific to contact or promote products and services cost effectively to overseas markets. “In this day and age….it is vital that our businesses in the Pacific are and can be accessed through these modern tools of communication namely the internet,” he said. The “Pacificbizonline.com” Project was therefore developed specifically to offer such an opportunity for businesses & commercial or trade organisations in the Pacific, to have some of their basic information registered ‘online’ so that they could be readily accessed by importers and potential importers in New Zealand and around the world. Mr Meredith encouraged the private sector to make full use of the http://Pacificbizonline.com website as a means to further promote Pacific Island products and services. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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