Brand scheme key to rich New Zealand market

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

PAPUA New Guinea is among six Pacific Island nations to join in an economic venture targeting the New Zealand  market through a branding concept called “true Pacific” (TP), The National reports.

The brand was a development project of the Pacific Co-operation Foundation (PCF) and the NZ government to help Pacific economies grow by helping them export their products under this concept.

The “TP” brand would focus on fresh produce, shelf-stable foods and spa and natural beauty products that countries like PNG, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu and Cook Islands could export to NZ under the TP brand.

This was revealed at a TP stakeholder feedback meeting on Monday in Port Moresby hosted by PFC and Investment promotion Authority. 

The meeting aimed to gather feedback from stakeholders regarding TP quality assurance programme and to provide updates.

The Pacific quality mark has been established to help raise consumer awareness of quality products of Pacific origin.

PCF auditor Kevin Budd said the concept of supplying the NZ market began in 2008 and that the foundation was now finalising the policy before launching in June this year.

He said so far, more than 40 enterprises had indicated interest in participating in this programme and that he was optimistic that more would join before the launching.

International standards form the basis of the guidelines and specifications that had been developed within the code of practice which the enterprises would need to meet in order to be registered and use the TP quality mark.

PCF is working closely with the IPA to target PNG’s export sector.

Budd, who visited three of the participating countries, was meeting with the IPA and stakeholders to discuss how PNG could be part of this and what   needed to be done to be registered.