News

Rotuma to improve trade with Tuvalu

June 8, 2014 7:39 pm

Trade of agricultural commodities between Rotuma and Tuvalu has continued to be put on hold as Rotuma is not meeting the demand from Tuvalu.

Tuvalu Deputy High Commissioner Avafoa Irata says Tuvalu is now getting their agricultural needs from Suva.

“The problem we seem to find out basically is the level of exports we can obtain from Rotuma, there has been orders made in the past and they have not delivered to the amount that was ordered, so some of the importers back home are a bit reluctant to continue with the Rotuma trade, I’m not saying that we have stopped ordering from Fiji, this importers from Tuvalu are now ordering direct from the Suva port.”

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Rotuma Island Council advisor Major General George Konrote admits there are some issues affecting the deal and it is working closely with government on strengthening it.

“Gradable up to date we are still keeping problems but with the commitment of government to help the council in terms of trying to improve the incoming generating capacity of the members of the community i believe there are brighter days ahead as you’ve heard the Prime Minister – we are now ironing out the shipping problems, the storage problems, so i have no doubt following the more dialogue and discussion with the government of Tuvalu things will improve.”

During a recent visit to Rotuma, Prime Minister Rear Admiral Voreqe Bainimarama told the people they need to increase their production to boost trade with Tuvalu.

A government delegation is expected to soon leave Viti Levu for Tuvalu to hold discussions on issues affecting the trade deal.