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Established:
1993
Description: <p>
The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Trade Agreement entered into effect on 22 July 1993 through the efforts of PNG, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. Fiji became a formal member of the MSG Trade Agreement on 14 April 1998. The MSG Trade Agreement is a sub-regional trade treaty established to foster and accelerate economic development through trade relations and provide a political framework for regular consultations and review on the status of the Agreement, with a view to ensuring that trade in terms of exports and imports is undertaken in a genuine spirit of the ‘Melanesian Solidarity’ and is done on a Most Favoured National (MFN) basis.
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The aims of the MSG are to promote and strengthen inter-membership trade, exchange of Melanesian cultures, traditions and values, sovereign equality, economic and technical cooperation and the alignment of policies in order to further the shared goals of economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security. In 2007, the MSG initiated a process of institutionalization with the establishment of a Secretariat. The MSG comprises a Summit of Head of States and Head of governments, Summit of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Senior Officials Meeting, Meeting of Trade and Economic Officials. At the 16th MSG summit at Goroka in Papua New Guinea's Highlands leaders have endorsed the establishment of a regional security force to deal with potential security threats and natural disasters in the region.
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