Introducing the Pacific

to Korea

IT seems from the moment the sugges tion was made for Pacific countries to participate in the Taejon exposition in Korea there has been criticism of some sort.

What will the gain? It costs too much?

It’s so far away? What is the purpose? echoed from the Federated States of Micronesia in the North Pacific to Tonga n the South.

But 10 regional countries, the Feder ited States of Micronesia, Solomon [slands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Marshall Islands, iCiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Hook Islands, and Tonga, decided the rip would be worth it as they set up shop n the Pacific Pavilion at the Taejon They were among 112 countries, 13 international organisations and more han 60 private corporations and govern nent organisations to participate at the from August 7 to November 7.

Taejon Expo ’93 under the banner The Challenge of a New Road to )evelopment” is aimed at many things, "he event primarily will serve to enhance Korea’s international image and pro mote its products overseas by demonstra ing Korean technology and the Korean can do” spirit. But while it introduces ».orea to the world it also introduces the 'orld to Korea or more specifically the acific to Korea (and the world).

And the people out to show off the acific nestle not-so-quietly through the itrance of the thatched Fijian bure

which stands out in sharp contrast to the state-of-the-art glass and metal buildings which surround it. As you enter the Pacific Pavilion the sound of the lali{ drum) fills the air as the Korean visitors look on in awe at a culture that is totally new to them. Thousands of visitors mainly Korean pour through the Pacific Pavilion every day.

In late September the record day saw 30,000 visitors which contributed to the almost one million visitors that have so far gone through the Pacific Pavilion.

And it it is these visitors or rather their fascination that holds the key to the Pacific participation at the Taejon Expo being a success.

It is only in recent years that Korea has opened up to the world. But now that it has it is on the look out. On the look out for new trading partners, places to do business in, places to invest in and places

to holiday in. Last year almost two million Koreans went abroad for a holiday, and the number is growing fast.

As Pacific Pavilion director, Bernadette Rounds Ganilau, points out you have to be there to take advantage of the situation. You can’t stay at home and wait for the investor or the tourist to come and look for you, there is too much competition. “There was some misgiv ings > some criticism, some doubts but I think at the end of it all we will show it was worth it,” Ganilau said.

Fiji and Papua New Guinea have the obvious advantage when it comes to attracting investors and business. Both have well established infrastructure and good professional back up. Both already have overseas investors and they have incentives to lure investors like Fiji’s Tax Free Factory Scheme and a skilled labour force. Their booths reflected their

diversity as they displayed not only

traditional handicrafts but

Martin Tiffany [?] sitors outside the Pacific Multi [?]tional Pavilion

Larry Bruton Shake it: Marie Melvin of the Cook Islands leads the tamure during national day

manufactured goods such as shoes, life jackets, soap and tinned meat.

Ilisoni Vuidreketi from the Fiji Visi tors Bureau manned the Fiji booth at Taejon for a while. He said one of the main points of interest was Fiji’s Tax Free Factory scheme and exporting from these factories to Australia and New Zealand under the South Pacific Re gional Trade and Economic Co operation Agreement (SPARTECA). He >aid while there were many trade enquiries specific ones included import ing Fiji tuna and garments and setting up garment factories in Fiji. Vuidreketi said

oe also received queries from people

nterested in exporting leather goods and :oys to Fiji, Tourism he said would be where Fiji :ould gain the most as the country ilready has excellent tourism infrastruc ure in place and were able to cater for Corean visitors with a style they were ised to and expected. He said there were nany queries from young couples and he younger generation in general who yere interested in holidaying in Fiji. Fiji ealises the potential of the fast-growing Scream tourist market. Fiji’s partici •ation in Taejon was co-ordinated by the iji Trade and Investment Board and bey made sure a member of the Fiji isitors Bureau was the first to be at the iji booth.

Already many of the Pacific countries t Expo have taken bookings from Koreans for holidays in their countries. If pproached right tourism could be the ngle most important gain from Korea, specially in light of indications from olynesian Airline, Air New Zealand nd Air Pacific that they are looking at irect flights from the Pacific to Seoul, lowever, the Pacific countries have to be repared to meet the demand if they ant to tap the lucrative market. As onga’s Sione Moala pointed out, his

country could attract a lot of visitors but did not have the tourism infrastructure to accomodate the Korean visitors. He said they would have to seriously look at upgrading this infrastructure if they want to attract Korean and Asian tourists.

Michael Avosa from PNG’s Invest ment Promotion Authority has also been encouraged by the response from Korea.

Already there have had some definite interest in PNG gold and there are a number of investors looking seriously in setting up in PNG. The response has been so good in fact that Avosa is planning an investment seminar in Korean capital, Seoul for Korean busi nessmen and investors.

Vanuatu’s Sandy Ishmael has also been dealing with a number of investors who are interested in his country. There have also been very encouraging re sponse from businessmen interested in

importing beef, coconut soap and kava for medicinal purposes. Ishmael said there had been many enquiries and he was surprised and encouraged by the many people interested in investing and doing business with his country.

The Korean businessmen who “dis covered” the Pacific at the Taejon Expo are excited at the potential the islands hold for investment, trade, business and tourism. The majority had little idea what was available in the Pacific region and it was only through Expo they were exposed to this part of the world.

Pacific countries such as Fiji, PNG and Solomon Islands already have major investment from Korea companies who have set up in their counties. The Solomon Islands Marvin Lezutuni says they are out to capitalise on the success of the Korean companies already in the

side: the Pacific Pavilion

Marlin Tiffany

Fiji’s Ilisoni Vuidreketi: leads the Pacific in a meke during national day

)lomons and attract more investment.

The Marshall Islands whose partici ition received criticism are out to show was worth it. Already the general sales for Polynesian Airlines in Korea, ternational Business Development has shown much interest in inging package tours to the Marshall lands. Frederick Muller from the arshall Islands ministry of resources id development says they are able to commodate a limited number of tour s almost immediately but for the long *m they should look at improving urism infrastructure. He said the indi tions from tourist operators in Korea •re very encouraging and the Marshalls d to be prepared to take advantage of “ situation. Apart from tourism Muller d there was many investment queries

he is following and added that his country would do well to look more towards the Korean and Asian market in general for trade and investment.

It seems his government is thinking along similar lines as in September a small Marshall Islands government del egation led by Minister of Transpor tation and Communications, Kunio Lemari, and Ambassador at Large, Oscar de Brum, paid a goodwill visit to Korea. This included hosting a reception for businessmen in Seoul. Minister Lemari told PIM that the purpose of their visit was to make contact with Korea and show Korea what was available in the Marshall Islands. He said they were looking more and more towards Asia this is reflected in the establishment of a Marshall Islands embassy in China.

Apart from its obvious attraction as a tourism attraction, the Cook Islands was much in demand for its handicrafts with one Korean businessman interested in

importing woven hand fans. There was also much interest expressed in importing black pearls from the Cook Islands.

While the smaller Pacific countries at Taejon such as Tuvalu and Kiribati obviously cannot attract the type of business and investment Fiji and PNG can, they gained from the exposure.

There was interest shown in their handicrafts and they have made their presence known. Also for these smaller countries investment is relative to their size. Even one small investment would mean a lot to their economy.

The participation of the Pacific islands at the Taejon Expo was organised by the Forum Secretariat at the invitation of

Korea and the Taejon Expo organising

committee. The Pacific Pavilion was set up for the Pacific countries free of charge but there were other expenses involved for Pacific countries. The 10 participat ing countries now have prove it was money well spent. □

East meets South: Tonga’s Sione Moaia and Fiji’s Ratu Kabakoro with the Korean Honour Guard

Martin Tiffany [?] wer of Great Light: one of Expo’s r actions

Larry Bruton