As a member of the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organization (PIPSO), the Chief Executive Officer of the Niue Chamber of Commerce, Catherine Etuata Papani, was invited to join the PIPSO delegation at the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM) in Suva, Fiji.
This was a significant privilege for Niue – one of the smallest economies in our Blue Pacific Continent – to bring its private sector voice directly to the Economic Ministers of all Forum member countries at this important regional dialogue.
Regional Cooperation for Resilience
In her intervention, the CEO highlighted that regional economic cooperation and integration are critical pathways for resilience and sustainability. Small domestic markets and fragile economies across the Pacific face common challenges:
- limited economies of scale,
- costly connectivity, and
- vulnerability to external shocks.
Through deeper regional cooperation, however, it is possible to create a single Pacific economic space that improves access to markets, financial services, skilled labor, and trade facilitation – particularly benefiting the smaller island economies.
Revitalizing PIPSO
Niue also welcomed the renewed attention given to revitalizing PIPSO. For too long, the regional private sector body has lacked stable funding and support, limiting its ability to effectively represent business interests in regional economic policy dialogue.
A call was made for a strengthened and sustainably funded PIPSO, which would:
- Build capacity in National Private Sector Organisations (NPSOs) such as the Niue Chamber of Commerce.
- Enable better coordination and engagement with governments and development partners.
- Drive the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) necessary to unlock economic opportunities in our island economies.
Niue’s Domestic Realities
It was shared with Ministers that Niue is experiencing growing demand for commercial spaces and services, driven by expanding tourism, construction, and service industries. At the same time, Niue faces a critical shortage of purpose-built business infrastructure, alongside severe labor shortages in construction, tourism, hospitality, and essential services – challenges mirrored in many other Pacific countries.
Stronger Together
In closing, CEO Catherine Etuata Papani reminded Ministers that the FEMM theme of “Stronger Together” resonates with Niue’s private sector vision:
“Alone, our markets are small. But together, through revitalized regional mechanisms such as PIPSO and greater economic integration, we can build a Pacific that is resilient, connected, and prosperous for all. Niue’s private sector humbly urges the Forum Economic Ministers to take forward practical steps that place the private sector at the heart of economic development. Let us move from dialogue to action – for a resilient and sustainable Blue Pacific economy.”