Progress has been made towards finalising a trade and development agreement for the Pacific region.

Leaders from sixteen countries met to discuss the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) in Christchurch yesterday.

Trade Minister Todd McClay said he's pleased with how far they got.

"Representatives reached agreement on the legal text for a development and trade agreement that will secure New Zealand access to Pacific Island countries.

McClay said by the end of October the market access negotiations will be concluded, and the PACER agreement should signed by the end of the year.

The negotiations include all members of the Pacific Islands Forum: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.