Pacific Island biosecurity officers and regional stakeholders convened last week for a three-day workshop in a collective effort to strengthen regional trade systems and promote market access for the Blue Continent.

The workshop focused on equipping Pacific government authorities and trade stakeholders with the tools, knowledge, and regulatory clarity needed to navigate the European Union’s interim (Pacific) Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) frameworks.

Participants explored practical strategies to enhance compliance with international trade standards, while also streamlining processes for regional integration and export competitiveness.

The joint workshop was supported by the European Union-funded Improving Pacific Islands Customs and Trade Project implemented by the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and organized by the Safe Agricultural Trade Facilitation through Economic Integration in the Pacific (SAFE Pacific) Project implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC). The workshop empowered discussions on “Building Pacific Capacities on EU-Pacific States EPA and SPS Related Platforms to Support Trade and Market Access.”

The event brought together technical experts from across the region alongside Vanuatu public and private sector, including representatives from the SPC, UN Trade and Development, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Committee Linking Entrepreneurship-Agriculture-Development (COLEAD), and delegates from Vanuatu’s Biosecurity, Customs, and Vanuatu Electronic Single Window (VeSW) Team, as well as MSME actors.

At the workshop, Mr. Milton Mashatise, the UN Trade and Development’s ASYCUDA Expert delivered a technical session on goods clearance procedures in ASYCUDA.

He emphasized how digital tools, such as electronic permit management and automated data exchange, are critical to enabling faster, more secure trade across borders.

The workshop featured insights from the UN Trade and Development’s Mr. Julien Bliesener, an Associate Economic Affairs Officer and Mr. Tevita Tupou, Customs and Trade Facilitation Expert.

Mr. Bliesener introduced participants to the Trade Analysis and Information System (TRAINS) platform and Global Trade Helpdesk (GTH), showcasing how access to transparent, harmonized trade data can support evidence-based decision-making and export planning.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tupou presented on the development of National Single Window Blueprints, a key initiative aimed at enhancing inter-agency coordination and digitizing trade procedures for improved efficiency.

This regional dialogue reflects a shared commitment to empowering Pacific economies through knowledge-sharing, policy alignment, and the adoption of digital innovations.