The reliability and affordability of vital shipping services for Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru and Tuvalu is being discussed in Fiji this week.
The meetings of the Central Pacific Shipping Commission, organised by the Pacific Community (SPC), aim to improve coordination and public-private partnerships to facilitate trade and port efficiency.
Studies by the SPC show that in its two years of existence the commission has contributed to an increased frequency of ships, lower costs through stabilised freight rates, and more regular services.