Donald Pelam, Vanuatu’s Trade Commissioner in Australia, says it is now opportune for the country to promote its products and services in overseas markets
He was recently interviewed in Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat programme in Sydney, where he is currently based.
Mr Pelam previously interned at Pacific Islands Trade & Invest (PT&I) Sydney offices as Vanuatu’s trade representative. PT&I is currently hosting Mr Pelam as Vanuatu’s Trade Commissioner at its offices for the current year.
Mr Pelam told Pacific Beat journalist Jemima Garrett that Vanuatu as a tourist destination, its range of products like coffee, cocoa and a wide range of fresh and frozen foods needed to be publicized and promoted in the Australian market. He said he had first identified the need for this during his internship days at PT&I in 2013. He also said Vanuatu’s involvement in the seasonal labour scheme needed a boost.
He said connections between Vanuatu producers, exporters and Australian importers and distributors had to be strengthened, which he was hoping to achieve while he was in Sydney. He said he would be the “middle person” between exporters and distributors.
While Mr Pelam had worked on Vanuatu coffee during his internship, he told Pacific Beat that there was much potential for cocoa, vanilla and spices. He said there was even interest in frozen taro, cassava and banana.
During his secondment the Vanuatu Trade Commissioner will work closely with the PT&I Team to capitalise on different market strategies to involve Vanuatu goods and services. “If Vanuatu can establish some potential distributors for its few products, establishing few investors to invest in Vanuatu and getting new seasonal workers programme employers to get our people to come and work in their farms and create increased remittances to Vanuatu, then I’ll be a happy man. It’s about making a little difference for Vanuatu, elevating the profile of the country,” Mr Pelam told Pacific Periscope earlier this year.
Upon his appointment earlier this year, Shiu Raj, Director of Economic Governance at Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat said, “The PT&I Network is pleased to host Mr Pelam as part of its effort to assist Vanuatu to have direct interaction with the Australian market for investment and exports. Mr Pelam will also work with the PT&I marketing experts in China, Europe, Japan and New Zealand to advance Vanuatu’s trade, tourism and investment interests.”
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) under the Governance for Growth (GfG) program is providing financial support by funding the secondment of Donald Pelam under an agreement with the Ministry of Tourism Trade Commerce and Ni-Vanuatu Business (MTTCNVB).
Pic: Radio Australia. Jemima Garrett interviews Vanuatu's Trade Commissioner, Donald Pelam