The meeting gave the opportunity to share testimonies and knowledge from different market advocates, managers and women vendors from Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Solomon Islands.

Held by the UN Women, Pacific Sub-Regional Office, the symposium also shared new knowledge on gender equality and empowerment of women in the context of markets in contemporary Pacific societies.

Solomon Islands UN Women Country Program Coordinator, Alvina Erekali said that the Symposium is for Solomon Islands to learn from the market governance experiences of Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.

Mrs Erekali added that the market should be seen as the workplace of market vendors that need better work conditions, not just a place where people go to get their fresh produce and meat.

The one-day symposium was held at the Iron Bottom Sound Hotel