Last month Pacific Islands Centre (PIC) concluded a Letter of Agreement regarding cooperative support for business expansion in Japan with the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus Program (PHAMA Plus)（URL: https://phamaplus.com.au/about-us）, aimed at promoting trade and investment in agricultural products mainly for island countries in the Pacific region. PHAMA Plus is an aid program supported by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand and aims to contribute to improved economic growth and rural livelihoods for Pacific peoples.

In recent years, PIC has focused on supporting the sales of coffee and cocoa (chocolate) from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and other countries to the Japanese market through participation in FOODEX Japan and so on.

There is potential in the future to conduct market research and develop strategic market development in Japan in cooperation with PHAMA Plus, which has a strong network with agricultural producers and exporters in the Pacific.

These joint efforts by PIC and PHAMA Plus are expected to contribute greatly to the expansion of sales of agricultural products from Pacific Island countries to the Japanese market.