Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 28 April 2026 – A Cook Islands delegation travelled to Apia, Samoa from 20 to 24 April 2026 to take part in key meetings and a strategic planning workshop under the PACER Plus Agreement.
The team was led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) and brought together officials from agriculture, trade, customs and internal affairs — a clear sign that PACER Plus is a whole-of-government priority.
This week’s meetings built on groundwork laid at home. In March 2026, the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) ran in-country consultations with government agencies to take stock of what’s been achieved since 2021, identify gaps, and develop targeted project proposals that reflect Cook Islands’ national needs.
In Samoa, Cook Islands contributed to technical discussions spanning customs, food safety standards, trade barriers, services and labour mobility. Decisions in these areas affect what Cook Islands businesses can export, what workers can do abroad, and how smoothly goods move across borders.
Throughout the discussions, Cook Islands pushed for support that is practical and targeted. These include building local skills and upgrading systems to procuring equipment and easing trade processes, so that commitments on paper translate into real gains for people at home.
The project proposals developed this week will now move through PACER Plus governance channels, reviewed by the Subsidiary Bodies, then put to the Budget Committee and Joint Committee for approval at meetings in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga in May 2026.
Cook Islands remains committed to using PACER Plus as a platform for sustainable economic growth, stronger regional ties, and tangible benefits for its communities
For further information, please contact: [email protected]