The pride and flavour of Cook Islands will be on show at the Pacific Partnerships for Prosperity (PPfP) Pavilion, showcasing the work of 55 registered food and crafts vendors and exhibitors, at the Punanga Nui Market next week.

The three-day event held during the 52^nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting will start on Tuesday.

In keeping with the theme for the Forum of “Our Voices, Our Choices, Our Pacific Way: Promote, Partner, Prosper,” the Pavilion will offer a platform to showcase Pacific ingenuity, economic resilience, and creative enterprise.

Among the 55 vendors will be crafts expert Mii Upu and seamstress Mata Brown. They will be participating in the Forum Leaders local craft exhibitions for the second time, having previously taken part in the 2012 Forum Pavilion in Rarotonga.

Upu, a regular presence at the Punanga Nui Market, spends five days a week skilfully weaving intricate jewellery ranging from shell ei, earrings, necklaces, and hats.

Bernice Manarangi helps out her daughter Vaiana George at her pearl jewellery stall at the Punanga Nui Market. MELINA ETCHES/23110204

In anticipation of the Forum market Pavilion, she is producing additional crafted products.

Brown is focused on sewing more of her versatile TAVs fabric items, including all-purpose purses of various sizes, tablecloths, cushion covers, and coin purses.

She will also have the “everlasting” ei katu and ukelele fabric bags for sale.

Brown says she will be busy sewing throughout the weekend to produce more products for her stall.

Bernice Manarangi assists her daughter Vaiana George with the Aka'ie'ie craft stall, which specialises in pearl jewellery.  The Aka'ie'ie will also be featured at the Pavilion expo next week.

Members of the public are invited to the Pavilion which will have its own special programme that will showcase Pacific community ingenuity and feature entertainment, side-events, and exhibition booths from Cook Islands based stakeholders, and regional and international entities.

In a statement. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration’s Tatryanna Utanga said: “We are very excited to invite everyone to come to the Pavilion, and learn about the Pacific Partnerships for Prosperity and all of the initiatives that contribute to the 2050 Strategy vision of a Blue Pacific Continent as a region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and increased prosperity so that all Pacific people are leading free, healthy and productive lives.”

“The Pavilion will promote partnerships, awareness, and networks to enable meaningful interaction and engagement with the community, Pacific delegates, Forum Partners and visitors alike.”

Mata Brown sells everlasting ei katu, bright coloured all-purpose purses, ukelele fabric covers. MELINA ETCHES/ 23110203

The Pavilion aims to build an understanding of what Pacific Partnerships for Prosperity means and how the Cook Islands and its partners can contribute. There will be a fusion of local arts, crafts, food, and culture as a partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI), the Business Trade and Investment Board (BTIB), and the Punanga Nui Market. Delivery of the Pavilion is being supported by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Program (SPREP).

The official opening of the Pacific Partnerships for Prosperity Pavilion by Prime Minister Mark Brown, who is also the chair of the 52^nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, will be held on Tuesday from 8.30am to 9.10am.

The list of Exhibition Booths are as follows: Seabed Minerals Authority - with information on the research on seabed minerals - along with Nodules and other artefacts from the seabed; Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC) - Insuring Resilience in the Pacific; Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner and the Pacific Islands Forum; Smart Energy Council - supporting renewables in the Pacific; CIC Ocean Research: Exploring the Future - sustainable Seabed Mining in the Cook Islands; United Nations (Pacific Country Team); Te Mato Akamoeau - Office of the Ombudsman and Ministry of Internal Affairs - Our Choices, Our Voices; Cook Islands Family Welfare Association - promoting the work that CIFWA does around Sexual Reproductive Health, Human Rights, with a focus on Youth and Gender Equality/Equity; UNITAR: The United Nations Institute for Training and Research; Kōrero o te ‘Ōrau ‘Ātui’anga ki te Tango - connecting to our foundation - to improve the well-being of the indigenous people of the Cook Islands and our environment; Cook Islands National Environment Service - to promote awareness of the environment and the challenges of plastic pollution; Pacific Ocean Climate Crisis Assessment (POCCA); ICT Division, Office of the Prime Minister - cybersecurity in the region; Moana Minerals Ltd & Cobalt Seabed Resources Ltd - Cook Islands registered companies, holding seabed mineral exploration licenses overseen by the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority; Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, and the Cook Islands Civil Society Organisation.