On
September 7-9, 2016, the FSM Department of Resources and Development with the assistance
of Pacific Islands Trade and Invest, New Zealand, held the first and successful
Nationwide Trade Fair. The exhibition was scheduled timely as it coincides with
the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Meeting, which was held in Pohnpei on September
7-11, 2016.
The Trade
Fair was intended to showcase and promote the various and high quality FSM made
products ranging from clothing (Chuukese Mumu/Pohnpeian Skirts), handicrafts,
agriculture (Kosrae Banana Chips and Paper Products) and marine products to
participants and delegates of the PIF Meeting. Thus, a few selected producers
from across the four states were gathered in Pohnpei on September 4thin
preparation of the event.
On the
morning of September 7th, His Excellency, President Peter M.
Christian visited the booths and was impressed by the quality of the products. FSM
First Lady Mrs. Maurina W. Christian, lead other first ladies who accompanied
their husbands to the Trade Fair and many of them left with bags of souvenirs. Throughout the three days, the sales
were not as much as expected but some vendors have managed to solicit
orders/projects that could worth more than $20,000.
The first
nationwide Trade Fair also highlighted the launching of the “Buy FSM Made”
campaign. This was made possible with the generous assistance of the Pacific
Trade and Invest, New Zealand by providing “Buy FSM Made” stickers which were
lodged on every product sold during the fair. In addition, the Auckland based
PT&I also conducted a workshop focusing on interaction and participation of
vendors at a Trade Fair.
The
turnout was a successfor the FSM market and to each of the vendors, as many of
them sold a good number of items to the visiting delegates and introduced and
promoted their products to consumers from other markets across the Pacific.
In
addition to the assistance of the Pacific Islands Trade and Invest, the FSM
Department of Resources and Development was supported during the Trade Fair by the
PohnpeiState Government Department of Economic Affairsand the Hub and Spokes II
Programme funded by the EU, ACP Secretariat. Below are some pictures of the
products displayed at the fair:
For more information, please contact the Department of
Resources and Development at telephone number (691) 320-5133.