The government of Tuvalu and Rotuma signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in Rotuma formalising the Bilateral Development Co-operation signed on July 23, 2010 at Natadola on Wednesday.

The MOA was signed by the Deputy High Commissioner for Tuvalu to Fiji, Avafoa Irata,  and the Rotuma Export Marketing Company Limited (REMCOL) executive chairman, Hiagi Foraete, on behalf of Rotuma Island.

The signing was witnessed by the deputy secretary for Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management and Fiji head of delegation, Setareki Tale, Rotuma Island Council members and district officer Rotuma, Niumaia Masere.

Mr Tale said the signing of the MOA would strengthen bilateral relationship between Tuvalu and Rotuma and also pave the way for the same to other small Pacific island states to ensure sustainable development and economic security.

Mr Irata said the signing of the MOA would continue and improve trade between Tuvalu and Rotuma that had begun in 2011.

He further said the commencement of the trade would ensure food security since Tuvalu was a low lying island and the frequency of cyclones had a lot of impact on agriculture.

He added that it was essential for the Tuvalu government to re-schedule and re-assess its shipping capability to facilitate the trade.

Mr Irata also thanked Prime Minister Voreqe  Bainimarama, for his initiative to revisit the trade.

He also thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for finalising the trade and the signing of the MOA would be a deciding factor in the trade.

Mr Masere said the last shipment of commodities to Tuvalu was made in April 2013 and the issue was raised with the Prime Minister for its continuation when he visited the island for the Rotuma Day celebration in May this year.

He said: “Rotuma is ready to meet the market in Tuvalu and is confident that it will expand to other commodities”.

The Bilateral Trade Agreement between the Government of Fiji and the government of Tuvalu was signed on October 1, 1998 at Funafuti.

On August 22, 2007, the Transport Minister of Fiji and Tuvalu met in Suva to discuss the Rotuma and Tuvalu trade issues.

The  Government in support of the trade initiative set up a taskforce in 2008 to implement Cabinet’s Decision to declare Rotuma as an international port of entry and provide the supporting infrastructure facilities and services to facilitate the trade with Tuvalu.

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