

Pacific Magazine
Friday, June 9, 2006
(Marianas Variety Online) - The Association of Pacific Island Legislatures will form an auxiliary group that will help the islands market their products overseas.
APIL adopted a resolution at the conclusion of its three-day assembly on Saipan calling for the creation of the Pacific Island Trade Association. The leadership and secretariat of the APIL are tasked to develop and plan for the formation of the PITA.
The PITA will establish uniform standards for the products that the islands wish to export as well as help them promote their businesses. The islands consider noni, pepper, coconut products, bananas, breadfruit and black pearls as some of the products that they can export.
"The development of trade association to develop common standards for production and product quality to promote name recognition of Pacific island products meeting these common standards would greatly assist the private sector economy of APIL member jurisdiction," the APIL resolution stated.
During their assembly here, the Pacific lawmakers elected Yap Sen. Sabino Sauchomal as their new president. He replaces Guam Vice Speaker Joanne MS Brown.
Hawaii state Sen. J. Kalani English is APIL's new vice president while Palau Delegate William William Ngiraikelau is the new secretary. Guam Sen. Judith Won Pat is the new treasurer.
Founded in 1981, APIL's members are American Samoa, the CNMI, Chuuk, Yap, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Guam, Hawaii, Kiribati, Nauru, the Marshall Islands and Palau.
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Original article URL: http://www.pacificislands.cc/pina/pinadefault2.php?urlpinaid=22550
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