PRESS RELEASE FROM THE MINISTRY OF CUSTOMS AND REVENUE
(23rd November 2021)
The Samoa Ministry of Customs and Revenue in collaboration with the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) conducted a half day workshop on 23rd November 2021 to sensitize the customs stakeholders on the benefits and implications of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER Plus). Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the Workshop was held in hybrid format hosted in Apia, Samoa.
PACER Plus came into force in December 2020 and the Parties have established the PACER Plus Implementation Unit based in Samoa to facilitate the implementation of the Development and Economic Cooperation Work Programme funded by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand that will assist PACER Plus Parties to implement the Agreement.
The major objective of the Workshop was to equip participants with information to enable them to take advantage of PACER Plus and capitalize the opportunities to enhance trade in the various aspects provided by the Agreement.
The Workshop was attended by more than sixty (60) participants, from across the public and private sector. Keynote addresses were given by the Australian Commissioner to Samoa H.E Emily Luck, New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa, H.E Dr. Trevor Matheson, and Mr. Roy Lagolago, Head of PPIU.
Key messages that were provided focused on the objective of PACER Plus to enhance development cooperation and stimulating economic growth through cooperation between the Parties by supporting improved trade and investment in the Pacific region. One of the key highlights made in the addresses is the overview of the historic events and cooperation between the governments of Australia, New Zealand and Samoa, on a bilateral and multilateral level intended to continue into the future. Emphasis was also put by the Speakers on the need for Samoa to work together as public and private sector agencies under PACER Plus to address connectivity and trade-related challenges and develop new and innovative solutions to facilitate access to markets and support economic recovery. Furthermore, participants were encourage to capitalize on the capacity building opportunities provided by PPIU across the the different technical areas of the Agreement.
The sessions focused on Trade in Goods with emphasis on simplification of customs procedures to facilitate trade under the Agreement. The participants were apprised by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on their work on the simplification of trade procedures through ASYCUDAWorld. UNCTAD is currently implementing ASYCUDAWorld in six other Pacific Island countries that have signed the PACER Plus. Using ASYCUDAWorld as the common customs system and harmonisation of trade procedures will lead to uniform applications of provisions and commitments in the Agreement among signatory countries, as well as improve trade facilitation and enable electronic data sharing and generation of statistical reports to guide economic policies.The ASYCUDA Regional Coordinator for the Pacific shared that UNCTAD continues to enhance ASYCUDA to support the main measures of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) by working with trade operators and international organisations to address barriers to cross-border trade.
“Samoa MCR has faced some significant challenges over the past two years in particularly dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to our normal operations, we ought to be ensuring that proper measures are in place to facilitate clearance of goods, medical and critical supplies and the safety of our frontline officers is maintained, said CEO of Ministry of Revenue & Customs, Ms Matafeo Avalisa Viali Fautua’alii. Despite these challenges, MCR have continued to embark on reforms to make it easier for business to trade and some of these initiatives include, procurement of Container X-ray scanner, accreditation of Phase 1 of Authorised Economic Operator Project, coordinated approach to border security and capacity building of staff and stakeholders. “I believe that as we pursue the correct implementation of trade facilitation measures this will not only boost trade, but also improve revenue collection, safety and security controls.”
During the Workshop, participants were provided the opportunity to ask questions and make contributions on PACER Plus implementation on the topic on how the government, through the various Ministries and Enterprises, and the PPIU can assist with their implementation efforts on the Agreement. A number of recommendations were proposed in which both MCR and partner Agencies will take into account during implementation of activities inclusive of the needs indicated on the capacity building space to ensure the private sector’s preparedness to trade and utilise the opportunities that are available.
