Washington, DC - Strengthening trade and investment capacity in Pacific Island nations for a more vibrant and robust economic partnership with the United States will be the focus of the “Pacific Islands-U.S. Regional Workshop on Trade, Investment, and Private Sector Development” taking place in Fiji August 19-20, 2015.

This workshop, co-sponsored by the United States Department of State and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, is the first of its kind and will be attended by representatives from Pacific Island Member States, the private sector, and the U.S. Government.

The workshop will strengthen the capacity of Pacific Island exporters and build awareness about how they can benefit from U.S. market access opportunities and attract more U.S. foreign direct investment. It will focus on private sector development, in particular small- and medium-sized enterprises and women-owned businesses.

The U.S. Government delegation will be led by Kurt Tong, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. The Pacific Islands will be represented by senior trade and fisheries officials as well as private sector leaders from across the region.

Issues on the agenda include: navigating agricultural market opportunities for Pacific Island products; fisheries trade and development in the Pacific; accessing opportunities through trade and investment with the United States; and supply chain connectivity in the Pacific. Discussions will focus on enabling business environments that address supply-side constraints and create success for entrepreneurs and small- and medium-sized enterprises. The workshop will also facilitate initial discussions on ways to strengthen trade and investment between the Pacific Islands and the United States.