Regional growth and trade resilience are under renewed scrutiny as Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) launched the 2026 Pacific Islands Export Survey, inviting businesses across 16 Forum Island Countries to participate in the region’s only longitudinal study of exporter sentiment.
The survey comes at a time when global trade conditions are increasingly shaped by evolving tariff settings, geopolitical competition, freight volatility, labour constraints and climate-related pressures. PTI said it is critical that Pacific businesses ensure their voices are reflected in the evidence shaping regional economic priorities.
Conducted every two years since 2014, the survey has generated more than a decade of primary research tracking exporter performance, confidence, barriers and emerging opportunities. In a region where comprehensive private sector statistics remain limited, it remains one of the few credible sources of regionally generated data.
The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Baron Divavesi Waqa, said the initiative aligns with the region’s long-term vision under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
“Our 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent calls for a resilient, inclusive and sustainable regional economy shaped by Pacific priorities and Pacific voices. The survey provides an important avenue for exporters and tourism operators to contribute directly to this shared endeavour, strengthening the evidence that supports regional cooperation and coordinated economic action,” Waqa said.
Recognising tourism as a core services export, the survey explicitly includes businesses that sell to international visitors. PTI said strong participation from tourism operators would strengthen the overall dataset and ensure service exports are fully represented alongside goods exports in regional reporting.
The survey, which takes about 10 minutes to complete and is mobile-friendly, is open to goods and services exporters, tourism businesses, chambers of commerce and industry associations. Participants are encouraged to share the survey through their networks to broaden representation in regional trade policy discussions.
PTI Network General Manager Caleb Jarvis said strong participation would be critical to ensuring business perspectives are reflected in regional trade and economic deliberations.
“In 2024, participating businesses identified freight costs, market access constraints and labour shortages among the most significant barriers to growth. Strong participation in 2026 — across all operators, big and small — will ensure the evidence reflects the breadth of business conditions across our region and strengthens the case for practical, targeted support,” Jarvis said.
Founded in 1979, Pacific Trade Invest facilitates trade and investment in the Pacific and works to strengthen export capability and international market access for businesses across the region.
The survey is available at: pti.mobi/PacificIslandsExportSurvey2026-5
