The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Dame Meg Taylor, announced this week the appointment of Cook Islands national, Mr Teremoana Mato, as Trade Commissioner of Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) China.  The Beijing-based office is the trade and investment arm of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) in China.

Mr. Teremoana Mato, 

Trade Commissioner of Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) China

Mato’s responsibilities at PTI China will include providing support to Pacific Forum Island Countries in facilitating trade, investment and tourism opportunities between the member countries and China.

In announcing the appointment, Dame Meg Taylor said, “I am very pleased with Mato’s appointment. The trade relationship we have with China is very important and the work of our Beijing Office is to continue to grow this relationship through trade, investment links and market access to and from China. Mato brings with him a wealth of experience in Pacific regional trade and investment having served both at the national level with the Government of the Cook Islands and the regional level with the Pacific Trade and Invest in New Zealand and Australia.”
“I look forward to what is to come from the Beijing Office with this new appointment. I also take this opportunity to extend our appreciation to the Government of the Peoples Republic of China for its support to PTI China which continues to enable the Office to deliver its key services to Forum Island Countries,” said Dame Meg.
In reflecting on his appointment, Mato acknowledged that "it’s an honour to be appointed in this role and to serve our Forum Island Countries.  While my tenure commences during trying times in China, a priority in this role is to refocus our plans to respond to this unprecedented change. This work will include leveraging and strengthening collaborations with our key stakeholders and partners in China and the Pacific so that we maintain delivery of our leaders mandate to promote and facilitate trade and investment opportunities for our pacific enterprises."
Mato’s appointment was effective from 24 February 2020.
Souce: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat