In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — ‘Regional ownership matters most,’ Pacific foreign ministers say amid fragile bloc unity
2. COOKS — Cook Islands election gives Brown powerful majority as Mangaia MPs join government
3. COOKS — Cook Islands election: Democratic Party pledges ‘honest review’ after preliminary election wipeout
4. FIJI — Fiji election officials declare readiness as constitutional window opens
5. FIJI — Referendum Bill to set framework for Fiji’s first constitutional vote
6. PACIFIC — Pacific CIRCLE puts vulnerable groups at heart of climate action
7. SOL — Solomon Islands Opposition backs Finance Minister Lilo’s call for fiscal discipline
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Solomon Islands can turn economic recovery into more jobs and incomes
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji records highest-ever monthly visitor arrivals, 1,295 residents leave Fiji for employment in July
10. PACNEWS BIZ — PM Marape to lead PNG investment push in Solomon Islands
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Fa’amoetauloa Fa’asavalu Ah Siu Lin appointed Samoa’s new controller and auditor general
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Eratap takes the lead in forming a response to Loss and Damage in Vanuatu
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Protecting our ‘most vital infrastructure’: Pushing back on desertification
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 1: Wed 19 Aug 2026
‘Regional ownership matters most,’ Pacific foreign ministers say amid fragile bloc unity
SUVA, 19 AUGUST 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES)— Foreign affairs leaders called on the Pacific Islands Forum to “remain united around” the region’s own priorities, including its own security challenges, in the face of growing geopolitical rivalry and the superpowers’ influence-peddling in the Pacific.
“It is precisely in times such as these that regional ownership matters most,” said Rick Houenipwela, chair of the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting.
Pacific foreign ministers recognised that the region’s own security framework has become increasingly complex and fragmented, hence the need for “a cohesive architecture, supported by agile and responsive regional mechanisms.”
During a meeting held in Suva, Fiji on 07 August, the ministers endorsed the draft Regional Peace and Security Action Plan 2026-2030, which aims to strengthen coordinated responses to various security challenges facing the Pacific region, such as transnational organized crime and climate-related security threats.
While noting the merits of the island states’ partnerships with donor nations, Houenipwela emphasised that the region’s agenda “must continue to be conceived by the Pacific, shaped by the Pacific and owned by the Pacific,” a formula that he said built the bloc’s “strategic strength.”
The Pacific Islands Forum’s foreign ministers’ meeting was held in preparation for the upcoming 55th PIF Leaders Meeting in Palau.
Themed “Building Economies: Life. Action. Unity,” the leadership meeting will be held in Koror from 30 August to 04 September, in the wake of a heightened challenge to regional unity following China’s recent missile test, which was collectively denounced by Western and Asian governments.
The Pacific foreign ministers’ forum ended without agreeing on a unified response to China’s July 7 missile test-launch, which landed in the South Pacific.
Nauru and Kiribati declined to support the other forum members’ positions.
“That even as our strategic environment becomes more complex, the Pacific’s response should not be fragmentation or division,” said Houenipwela, Solomon Islands’ foreign affairs minister. “It should be greater regional solidarity, stronger consensus and continued confidence in our own regional institutions and processes.”
The U.S and China have stepped up their competition, centred on the race for military supremacy, increasing the demand for the Pacific region’s involvement.
Largely keeping their distance from geopolitics, Pacific island states have outlined their own non-military-related security agenda, including economic integration, climate action, ocean governance, technology, connectivity and institutional reform.
“And there has never been a more important time for the Pacific Islands Forum to remain united around our own priorities,” Houenipwela said.
“The matters before us today reflect that responsibility—from strengthening our peace and security architecture, advancing the 2050 International Engagement Strategy, deepening regional integration, preparing for COP31, and ensuring our partnerships continue to serve Pacific priorities.”
Pacific foreign ministers have agreed in principle to the proposed institutionalization of the Pacific Police Ministers Meeting as a decision-making mechanism within the Forum.
Further consultations will take place at the national level and recommended its referral to PIF leaders for consideration.
COOKS – ELECTION/POLITICS: PMN PACNEWS 1: Wed 19 Aug 2026
Cook Islands election gives Brown powerful majority as Mangaia MPs join government
RAROTONGA, 19 AUGUST 2026 (PMN)—The Cook Islands Party (CIP) is heading for a powerful fifth consecutive term in government after three newly elected independent women MPs from Mangaia agreed to join the governing party.
The move follows last week’s general election and takes the CIP from 12 seats in preliminary results to 18 in the 24-seat Parliament, giving it three-quarters of the seats.
Rashneel Kumar, the Editor of Cook Islands News, says the scale of the result has surprised many, particularly those expecting the opposition to win more seats.
The three Mangaia MPs – Agnes Armstrong, Rimmel Poila-Mokoroa and Tetangi Matapo – have agreed to join the government, in a move being framed as a way of putting Mangaia closer to where major decisions are made.
“They’ve agreed to work together,” Ariki told the Cook Islands News. “The three of them. Because Mangaia has been out of government for some time … I asked them to make up their mind.
“The main reason is to have Mangaia sitting at that table where the decisions are made. We can’t sit outside. It’s been too long that we’ve been sitting outside.”
Armstrong, the new independent MP for Ivirua, says the decision was made collectively with their supporters and communities.
“That’s our consensus with our committees and the people behind us that we all work together as one for the betterment of the island and our individual constituencies,” she told the newspaper.
Senior CIP member and caretaker Nikao-Panama minister, Vaine “Mac” Mokoroa, says the three MPs have agreed to join the government, with the move facilitated through the endorsement of Mangaia’s paramount chief.
“They have all agreed to join the government of the day… This process and negotiation was facilitated through the endorsement and grace of Numangatini Ariki.
“All independents are in need of change and progress on their island hence the reason they decided to stand as independent and move into government.”
Kumar says the Cook Islands Party defied expectations on election day.
“There were probably a couple more seats that people were thinking that United would grab, especially in Ratatonga.
“I mean the Cook Islands party on the election day they proved everybody wrong, I guess, they command the majority with the support from the independents.”
The election has also produced an upset in Pukapuka-Nassau, where first-time independent candidate Dr Kirianu “Dash” Nio defeated caretaker foreign affairs minister and CIP candidate Tingika Elikana by three votes, 134 to 131.
The Democratic Party is also waiting on special votes that could affect its final numbers.
Party leader Tina Browne’s seat is separated by three votes with 14 special votes still to be counted while the party’s deputy leader is also in a close race.
But even if those results go their way, the Democratic Party has suffered a major setback, falling from five seats at the last election.
Kumar says Browne is committing to an honest review of the campaign before deciding what comes next.
“What she is saying is that she is committing to an honest review of the campaign and, I mean, based on that, they will decide where to go from there.”
For Brown, the result puts his Cook Islands Party in a strong position to begin another term in government.
Kumar says Brown was confident on election night that voters had given his party another mandate. But the Prime Minister is waiting for the final results before outlining his next steps.
The bigger question now is how the Cook Islands’ political system will work with such a weak opposition.
Kumar says a strong opposition is important for holding any government to account and that could put even greater pressure on the media.
“Based on the first count, you definitely need a very strong opposition to have a good government. And at the moment, it doesn’t seem that way. That makes it quite an extraordinary situation.”
Kumar says Cook Islands News will continue scrutinising government policies and decisions.
“And that we have been playing for, I think, the last four years and beyond. So we’ll just keep doing our job and making sure the policies that the government is promoting or trying to implement is in the best interest of the people.”
With the final count due this week, the election story in the Cook Islands is now moving beyond who won.
The focus is turning to how a government with such a strong grip on Parliament will be held to account and whether the opposition can rebuild from one of its biggest election setbacks….PACNEWS
COOKS – ELECTION/POLITICS: COOK ISLANDS NEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 19 Aug 2026
Cook Islands election: Democratic Party pledges ‘honest review’ after preliminary election wipeout
RAROTONGA, 19 AUGUST 2026 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) —Cook Islands’ Democratic Party leader Tina Pupuke-Browne pledged an “honest campaign review” after preliminary results showed the party losing all its seats.
Pupuke-Browne said the party will learn from its dismal 2026 general election performance, but added that it is “premature” to declare their final standing while official counts remain pending.
According to preliminary results released last week, the Democratic Party – which governed the country before the Cook Islands Party was voted into power in 2010 – failed to win a single seat.
However, two of its candidates remain locked in close contests, with a significant number of declaration votes yet to be counted.
In Rakahanga, incumbent and party leader Pupuke-Browne trails the Cook Islands Party’s Levi Teinaki by just three votes, with 14 declaration votes remaining.
In Matavera, incumbent MP and party deputy leader Vaitoti Tupa trails the Cook Islands United Party’s Taneao Ngamata by 18 votes, with 60 declaration votes left to verify.
“The preliminary results are deeply disappointing for the Democratic Party, and we must accept that the voters have spoken,” Pupuke-Browne told Cook Islands News.
‘We will take responsibility, listen carefully, and conduct an honest review of our campaign and the Party’s direction.”
Asked whether she would reconsider her position as party leader after two disappointing election campaigns, Pupuke-Browne emphasised that the electoral process was not yet complete.
“Pukapuka is showing a closely fought seat,” she said.
“In Rakahanga, declaration votes remain to be finalised, as they do in several other constituencies. Any election petitions must also be heard and determined by the Court.”
“Until then, it would be premature to declare the Party’s final position or any individual candidate’s position.”
She said once the process is complete, the party will meet and make “considered decisions about its leadership and future”.
“Those decisions should be made collectively and calmly, not in reaction to preliminary results.”
Pupuke-Browne thanked the party candidates, supporters and volunteers for their support.
“This is not the outcome we hoped for, but democracy requires us to respect the will of the people.
“We will learn from this result, rebuild and continue serving the Cook Islands,” she said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – ELECTION/POLITICS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 19 Aug 2026
Fiji election officials declare readiness as constitutional window opens
SUVA, 19 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN)–The Electoral Commission (EC) and Fijian Elections Office (FEO) say they are ready to conduct Fiji’s next General Election at any time within the constitutional election window, which opened on 07 August 2026 and closes on 06 February 2027.
The assurance comes amid public discussions about election preparedness and proposed amendments to Fiji’s electoral laws.
In a statement, the EC and FEO said the proposed legislative changes would not affect their operational readiness to conduct the election.
Comprehensive preparations have been undertaken to ensure the necessary systems, personnel, resources and logistical arrangements are in place to deliver a credible, transparent and efficient election.
Preparations will continue throughout the legal election timeframe.
The EC and FEO said they had proposed several amendments to Fiji’s electoral laws based on operational experience and stakeholder feedback, and with the objective of improving the accessibility, inclusiveness and administration of elections.
The proposed amendments have been submitted to Government and are awaiting consideration.
Among the proposed changes are measures to address requirements that may create barriers for eligible voters, expand access to postal voting and improve accessibility for persons with disabilities.
They also seek to strengthen electoral quality assurance, provide greater clarity around electoral processes and support equitable participation by political parties.
However, the EC and FEO stressed that the legislative process would not affect their ability to conduct the election.
“Regardless of the outcome or timing of the legislative process, the EC and the FEO remain ready to discharge its respective constitutional and statutory responsibilities.”
The EC also acknowledged the importance of ensuring voters were properly informed if changes to electoral laws were enacted before the General Election.
The EC and FEO said appropriate voter information and awareness activities would be undertaken to ensure voters clearly understood any changes affecting their participation in the electoral process.
“The EC and the FEO stand ready to conduct the General Election within the constitutionally established timeframe and remain committed to delivering an election that is credible, transparent, accessible and conducted in accordance with the law.”….PACNEWS
FIJI – REFERENDUM BILL: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 19 Aug 2026
Referendum Bill to set framework for Fiji’s first constitutional vote
SUVA, 19 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji is moving closer to its first constitutional referendum, with the Referendum Bill expected to be tabled in Parliament this week to establish the legal framework for the historic vote.
Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga confirmed the timeline following Tuesday’s Parliament sitting.
“That will come out this week. The Referendum Bill will be tabled this week,” Turaga said.
The Bill would provide the legal framework required to conduct the country’s first constitutional referendum.
However, Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Usaia Ratuvili has cautioned that conducting a referendum would be a lengthy process.
At an earlier media briefing, Justice Ratuvili said Parliament, or another body appointed by Parliament, would first have to determine the question to be put to voters.
He said determining the question would itself be a process.
The development comes as the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) works towards an August 30 deadline to complete its review.
Turaga said final touches were being made to the commission’s work.
“Today (Tuesday) is the 18th, so we have 12 working days to complete and the 30th (August 30) we will submit to His Excellency.
“The second consultant, drafter, arrived Monday and I am aware that final touches are being made, so this week and the next are very important. We have the drafters and we also have the consultants. The consultants are familiar with constitution drafting in the region, so we are looking forward to that day,” he said.
Turaga also acknowledged views that the next General Election could be held under the current Constitution.
He said much had already been said on the issue and he did not want to create further confusion….PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 19 Aug 2026
Pacific CIRCLE puts vulnerable groups at heart of climate action
LABASA, 19 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN)—The Kiwa Pacific Community Inclusion for Resilient Climate and Ecosystems (CIRCLE) project was launched in Labasa Tuesday, with women, young people and people with disabilities to take leading roles in climate adaptation initiatives.
Macuata Provincial Administrator Revoni Rakasalu, speaking as chief guest, thanked the Kiwa Initiative, Transcend Oceania, Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation and ActionAid Australia for including communities that have already relocated, those in the process of relocating and those living with the possibility of future relocation.
“This launch marks groundbreaking program that will engage women, young people and people with disabilities in Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga and Kiribati to lead nature-based solutions that help communities adapt to climate change,” Ms Rakasalu said.
“This three and half year project will support ecosystem restoration and resilient livelihoods through activities ranging from regeneration of mangroves to sustainable fisheries.”
The project will be implemented in partnership with five Pacific-led organisations – Transcend Oceania, Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation, ActionAid Vanuatu, Tonga Community Development Trust and the Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific Kiribati.
It will be led by ActionAid Australia and the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction.
In Fiji, Transcend Oceania and the Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation will lead the programme across three provinces in Vanua Levu.
The communities are Tavea and Cogea in Bua Province; Nabavatu and Mali in Macuata Province; and Vunidogoloa, Vunisavisavi, Naviavia, Saqani, Wainiika and Tawake in Cakaudrove Province.
The project aims to strengthen the capacity of women, young people and people with disabilities to lead climate change adaptation strategies in their communities.
It will also seek to influence gender and disability-inclusive climate policies that enhance climate resilience and promote nature-based solutions.
Kiwa Pacific CIRCLE at Transcend Oceania senior project officer lead Justine Maravu said: “By placing women, youth, and persons with disabilities at the heart of climate adaptation, they are building resilience that is rooted in inclusivity, driven by local leadership and destined to protect our islands for generations to come.”
Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation programme coordinator Jay Nasilasila said Pacific CIRCLE was an opportunity to demonstrate that climate resilience and nature-based solutions must be inclusive by design.
“For us this means ensuring that persons with disabilities are not only beneficiaries, but are actively involved in shaping, implementing and leading solutions within their communities.
“As we launch this work in Labasa and across Vanua Levu, we want to ensure that local knowledge, lived experience and the voices of those most at risk of being left behind are at the centre of climate action,” Nasilasila said….PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
SOL – ECONOMY: WORLD BANK PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 19 Aug 2026
Solomon Islands can turn economic recovery into more jobs and incomes
HONIARA,19 AUGUST 2026 (WORLD BANK)— Solomon Islands has an opportunity to turn its economic recovery into more jobs, higher incomes, and better resilience to future shocks.
The World Bank Group’s first Solomon Islands Economic Update: Harnessing the New Roots of Growth finds that achieving this will require stronger management of public finance, greater investment in sectors like agriculture and fisheries, and new sources of growth beyond mining.
The report shows the economy has rebounded after contracting for three consecutive years between 2020 and 2022. However, the recovery is narrow, driven largely by mining, remittances, and public infrastructure spending. These drivers have generated limited employment, provided uneven benefits for communities, and left the economy vulnerable to future shocks.
“Solomon Islands is at an important turning point. The country is benefiting from new sources of growth, particularly mining, but long-term prosperity will depend on how effectively resource revenues are managed and invested.
Stronger public finances and greater investment in productive sectors can help create jobs, support local businesses, and improve living standards across the country,” said Bernard Harborne, World Bank Group Resident Representative for Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
The Economic Update projects growth of 2.8 percent in 2026, driven mainly by mining and public investment. Mining accounted for more than half of Solomon Islands’ exports in 2025, up from just 4 percent in 2019. However, mining requires significant investment and creates relatively few jobs. Without strong governance and careful reinvestment, its benefits may not reach the wider economy.
The need to create more jobs for young people is particularly urgent. Around 9,000 young Solomon Islanders enter the labor force each year, while only about 2,100 formal jobs are created.
Fiscal pressures are also mounting. Cash reserves cover less than one month of spending; public debt reached 30 percent of GDP in 2025; and declining grants, higher fuel costs, and climate-related shocks are adding further strain. Cyclone Maila has reinforced the need to rebuild financial buffers and prepare for future crises.
To address these challenges, the report identifies two priorities: rebuilding public finances so the government can respond to shocks and broaden the economy to create more jobs and incomes. Key recommendations include strengthening mining governance and revenue collection, implementing planned tax reforms, investing in productive sectors, and expanding access to finance for businesses.
The report identifies significant opportunities for growth in higher-value agriculture, fisheries, tourism, renewable energy, and private sector development. Investments in infrastructure, access to finance, and a more predictable business environment could help unlock these sectors and create jobs across the country.
As Solomon Islands approaches the 50th anniversary of its independence, the report highlights a unique opportunity to build a more diverse, resilient, and job-rich economy. With the right reforms and investments, the country can convert its natural resources, youthful population, and untapped economic potential into more opportunities and better living standards for future generations…..PACNEWS
FIJI – VISITOR ARRIVALS/ EMPLOYMENT: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 19 Aug 2026
Fiji records highest-ever monthly visitor arrivals, 1,295 residents leave Fiji for employment in July
SUVA, 19 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Fiji recorded its highest monthly visitor arrivals on record in July 2026, with the number of visitors surpassing 100,000 for the first time.
Provisional figures released by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics show 105,791 visitors arrived during the month, up 6.5 percent from the 99,311 recorded in July last year.
The latest result continues an upward trend in July arrivals, which increased from 78,638 in 2022 to 93,483 in 2023 and 98,332 in 2024.
Of the 105,791 visitors recorded last month, 104,377 arrived by air and 1,414 by sea. Sea arrivals included 914 seamen from fishing vessels and 500 visitors arriving by yacht.
Holidaymakers continued to dominate the market, accounting for 80.1 percent of all arrivals. Another 8.7 percent came to visit friends or relatives, 1.6 percent travelled for business and 9.6 percent visited for other reasons.
Australia remained Fiji’s largest source market, contributing 45,907 visitors, or 43.4 percent of total arrivals.
New Zealand followed with 28,430 visitors, representing 26.9 percent, while the United States contributed 13,428 visitors, or 12.7 percent.
Continental Europe recorded 3,117 visitors, China 3,093, Canada 1,722 and the United Kingdom 1,393.
Together, Fiji’s major source markets accounted for 91.8 percent of all July arrivals.
The statistics also show 59.3 percent of visitors were aged between 25 and 64, while children aged 14 and below accounted for 18.3 percent.
Youths aged between 15 and 24 represented 11.6 percent, while visitors aged 65 and over accounted for the remaining 10.8 percent.
Meanwhile, a total of 1,295 Fiji residents departed the country for employment purposes in July 2026, according to the latest resident departure figures.
The data shows employment accounted for 8.3 percent of the 15,694 resident departures recorded during the month.
Of those leaving for employment, 287 were expected to be away for less than three months, while 489 indicated an absence of between three and 12 months.
Another 519 residents left for employment for periods ranging from one to five years, the largest group among employment-related departures.
Overall, 13,665 residents, or 87.1 percent of all departures, indicated they would be away for less than three months.
Holiday travel remained the leading reason for residents leaving Fiji, accounting for 6,497 departures or 41.4 percent.
Another 5,278 residents departed to visit friends or relatives, while 983 travelled for business and 800 for education or training.
The figures also show 148 residents departed for emigration, including 91 who indicated they would be away for more than five years or permanently……PACNEWS
SOL – ECONOMIC REFORMS: INDEPTH SOLOMONS PACNEWS 1: Wed 19 Aug 2026
Solomon Islands Opposition backs Finance Minister Lilo’s call for fiscal discipline
HONIARA, 19 AUGUST 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS) —Solomon Islands Opposition has backed Finance and Treasury Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo for taking a “realistic approach” to Solomon Islands’ financial position.
It said Lilo’s focus on assessing the country’s available fiscal space, increasing domestic revenue and managing public finances responsibly was necessary amid growing demands on the national budget.
Lilo highlighted these challenges during his recent presentation of the 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bill.
He warned of the pressure placed on the national budget when government spending increases without corresponding growth in revenue or a clear financing strategy.
In a statement, the Opposition said this was a difficult responsibility, particularly as the Government pursues major policy commitments and new programmes.
“Minister Lilo deserves credit for putting fiscal reality at the centre of the discussion,” the Opposition statement said.
“A Finance Minister must look at what the country can actually afford before Government makes commitments that create additional financial obligations,” it added.
“Fiscal discipline must apply across Government.”
It pointed to increased government spending, additional political appointments and major policy commitments, including fee-free education, infrastructure and agriculture programmes.
The Opposition said all such commitments have financial implications and must be assessed against the country’s available resources.
It also warned that increasing government revenue should not automatically lead to increased spending.
Government must consider whether new spending can be sustained over the long term, it said.
The Opposition said this was particularly important for the proposed fee-free education policy.
It called on the Government to clearly state the policy’s full cost and explain how it will be financed alongside other commitments.
“Good policy must be matched by good financial planning.”
It said responsible financial management also requires the finance minister to have sufficient space to assess the country’s finances and advise the Government on what is affordable and sustainable.
“If we genuinely want responsible government, fiscal discipline cannot rest with the Finance Minister alone.
“It must be respected and applied across the whole of Government.”
The Opposition said it welcomed Lilo’s focus on fiscal responsibility.
It said it would continue supporting efforts to strengthen Solomon Islands’ financial position while scrutinising government spending and major policy commitments.
The Opposition said Solomon Islanders deserved a government that made promises based not only on what people wanted to hear, but on what the country could realistically afford and sustain.
It also urged the finance minister to control government expenditure while building the country’s fiscal space……PACNEWS
PNG – INVESTMENT CONFERENCE: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 19 Aug 2026
PM Marape to lead PNG investment push in Solomon Islands
PORT MORESBY, 19 AUGUST 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape will travel to Honiara, Solomon Islands, this week for the inaugural Papua New Guinea-Solomon Islands Investment Conference, saying the strong political and historical relationship between the two neighbouring countries must increasingly translate into trade, investment, jobs and business opportunities.
Marape will address the conference, to be held over two days, alongside host Prime Minister Matthew Wale, who will open the event.
Government leaders, investors, business executives, financial institutions and development partners from both countries are expected to participate.
“This Conference is about taking the strong Relationship between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands into its next important phase,” Marape said.
“We have longstanding historical, cultural and people-to-people ties. Our Governments enjoy very good relations.
“We must now use that foundation to generate greater economic opportunities for our people.
“We want to move from opportunity to actual investment, and from government-to-government cooperation into stronger business-to-business partnerships.”
Marape said PNG already has a significant commercial footprint in the Solomon Islands built over several decades.
A 30-year review records 126 PNG-Origin registered Investments across 18 Sectors, including agriculture, information and communications technology, construction, financial services, fisheries, mining, insurance, professional services, retail and wholesale, tourism and transportation.
These Investments have proposed employment for more than 7,500 Solomon Islanders, with agriculture, professional services and fisheries among the largest employment-generating sectors.
PNG investment has also evolved from major capital projects in mining, telecommunications, tourism and agriculture into an increasingly diverse presence encompassing finance, construction, retail, professional services, transportation and small-to-medium enterprises.
“PNG businesses have shown that they can successfully invest beyond our borders while creating employment and contributing to the economy of a neighbouring Pacific country,” Marape said.
“I thank the government and people of the Solomon Islands for welcoming our businesses and giving them the confidence to invest.
“But I also want this relationship to become increasingly two-way.
“Solomon Islands businesses are equally welcome to explore opportunities in PNG,” he said….PACNEWS
SAMOA – AUDITOR GENERAL: SAMOA NEWSHUB PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 19 Aug 2026
Fa’amoetauloa Fa’asavalu Ah Siu Lin appointed Samoa’s new controller and auditor general
APIA, 19 AUGUST 2026 (SAMOA NEWSHUB)—The Government of Samoa has announced the appointment of Fa’amoetauloa Fa’asavalu Ah Siu Lin as the country’s new Controller and Auditor General.
The appointment was made pursuant to Section 97 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Independent State of Samoa, following advice from Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polata’ivao Fosi Schmidt to the Head of State, Afioga Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II.
Fa’amoetauloa was sworn into office during a ceremony at Parliament on Tuesday, 18 August 2026.
He succeeds former Controller and Auditor General Fuimaono Papalii’i Camillo Afele, who resigned after many years of service in the position.
Fa’amoetauloa brings close to 20 years of experience with the Samoa Audit Office, where he has served in a number of roles. His most recent position was Director Legal.
He is a graduate of the University of the South Pacific, where he completed a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in Accounting and Economics between 2007 and 2010. He later completed a Bachelor of Law between 2021 and 2025.
Fa’amoetauloa is also a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Samoa Institute of Accountants.
The Head of State and Prime Minister congratulated Fa’amoetauloa on his appointment and wished him well in his new role…. PACNEWS
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Eratap takes the lead in forming a response to Loss and Damage in Vanuatu
PORT VILA, 19 AUGUST 2026 (SPREP)—The Eratap community in Vanuatu have taken the first steps on a national journey to building responses to climate induced loss and damage.
Held on 17 August 2026, a community consultation in Eratap highlighted the impacts they have felt as a result of climate change, and trends they have observed and how this has impacted the community.
The consultation is the first community engagement under the Building Our Loss and Damage (BOLD) Response Project in Vanuatu, where building national and community level understanding and evidence on loss and damage is a cornerstone of the project.
“Our community is really feeling the impacts of climate change, on our families, our resources and our livelihoods. Climate change is a big concept, and with our best efforts to recover from the impacts, it can be a challenge. It is therefore very important to build our knowledge on how we can adapt and respond to the changes, and these discussions will allow us to share the right information with our community”, said Eratap Chief Kenneth Alban.
Eratap and neighbouring Teouma are high agricultural production regions, and the main suppliers of fresh market produce to Port Vila. The regions experience loss and damage annually and have significant climate vulnerability risk due to flooding, coastal inundation, erosion and other climate impacts.
Eratap community members also shared stories and their experiences of Non-Economic Loss and Damage (NELD), referring to the harmful and intangible impacts of climate change that cannot be easily financially measured, another cornerstone of the BOLD Response Project.
The consultation is an important component under the BOLD Response Project in Vanuatu, coordinated by the Department of Climate Change with technical support from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and Climate Analytics and follows the Vanuatu BOLD Inception Meeting held in February 2026 and a number of stakeholder engagements throughout the year. Stakeholders recognised that loss and damage affects all sectors and the BOLD Response Project is positioned to support national priorities on loss and damage.
Moirah Matou from the Department of Climate Change and Vanuatu BOLD Project Coordinator highlights the importance of sharing knowledge on building a response to loss and damage with communities.
“Agriculture and food systems is a prioritised sector under BOLD, and for Eratap, climate resilience can be enhanced through understanding how climate hazards impact agriculture, farming systems and food security”.
“While also helping communities understand NELD, including traditional practices, customary crops and community wellbeing”, Matou said.
The consultation included a site visit to Shark Bay, where participants observed Teouma Beach and downstream Teouma River where coastal erosion and inundation impacts, and evidence of flooding damage could be seen.
Upstream, the Teouma Bridge was recently reconstructed for the fourth time due to a changing landscape caused by flooding. Participants observed that up to 100m of the Teouma Beach had been washed out, and the landscape had largely changed over the last couple of years especially after major cyclones and flash flood events.
The consultation continues with a deeper dive into climate hazards and practical activities on the impacts on sectors and communities, to further enhance awareness and inform response activities.
The Building our Loss and Damage (BOLD) Response Project is a five-year project running from 2025 to December 2029 and is funded by the Federal Republic of Germany through its Federal Foreign Office, under the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The Eratap, Vanuatu BOLD Community Consultation is held from 17 -18 August 2026.
BOLD is implemented by a consortium led by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and Climate Analytics, across five Pacific Island countries Fiji, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Protecting our ‘most vital infrastructure’: Pushing back on desertification
ULAANBAATAR, 19 AUGUST 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —-As heatwaves are turning deadlier, fires and disasters are razing cities — and rising seas are erasing territories — one environmental crisis remains dangerously overlooked: the degradation of the land beneath our feet.
Desertification, the phenomenon whereby fertile land becomes unproductive and desert-like, is spreading at alarming rates across the globe due to rising temperatures, droughts and deforestation.
Alarming Sword of Damocles
“Land is our most vital infrastructure — underpinning food security, water, livelihoods and stability,” stressed UN Executive Yasmine Fouad ahead of a major UN conference to tackle desertification, COP17, taking place in Mongolia this week.
In that vast land-locked nation dominated by the Gobi Desert and semi-arid grassland, land degradation is very tangibly threatening livelihoods.
Around one third of Mongolians are dependent on pastoralism, yet nearly 77 percent of their country’s land – sandwiched between Russia and China – is degraded.
In 2023 and 2024, Mongolian farmers lost more than seven million livestock due to severe summer droughts followed by extremely cold dzud winters.
“For Mongolia, land is inseparable from our people, our livelihoods and our future. We know that the health of our land has direct consequences for people’s lives,” highlighted Mongolia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Battsetseg Batmunkh, as the conference got underway.
3.2 billion livelihoods at stake
And the phenomenon extends far beyond Mongolia. 40 percent of the world’s land is currently facing land degradation and drought, threatening the livelihoods of 3.2 billion people worldwide.
Rangelands are a particularly serious source of concern. They are vast, natural land areas that are unsuited for farming crops, but that provide vital food for nearly 70 percent of the world’s livestock feed.
Despite being seldom talked about, two billion people rely on them for food, and they are facing the brunt of land degradation and drought.
“[These issues] are no longer distant environmental concerns,” underscored Fouad.
“They are already affecting the food we produce, the water we depend on, the resilience of our economies and the ability of communities to build secure futures,” she went on.
The financial cost of these environmental changes is also quantifiable. Degradation and drought are currently costing the global economy nearly US$900 billion every year. Droughts, in particular, which have increased by almost one-third since 2000, are estimated to cause US$300 billion in losses yearly.
Turning words into action
Monday saw the opening day of the two-week long COP17 conference hosted by Mongolia in its capital city, Ulaanbaatar.
Building on the progress made at COP16 in Riyadh, parties will discuss measures to strengthen drought resilience, sustainable agriculture and protect soils.
These include early warning systems, vulnerability assessments and international cooperation.
“The greatest change we want to see from COP17 is a shift from talk to action, from targets to implementation, and from commitments to measurable results,” stressed Mongolia’s Prime Minister Nyam-Osoryn Uchral.
A multibillion finance gap
One of the key priorities of the conference is to mobilise greater investment from the private sector for land restoration and drought resilience.
There is currently an estimated US$278 billion finance gap. An estimated US$355 billion is needed every year to restore land and resilience-building, yet current investment stands at only US$77 billion.
Public resources alone are unlikely to close the gap, and despite depending heavily on reliable land and water supplies, the private sector provides only around six percent of global land restoration and drought resilience funding.
Organisers of the COP17 conference are hoping to strengthen collaboration between governments, development banks, businesses and investors through initiatives like Business4Land Forum.
“I am confident that COP17 will mark an important step towards stronger international cooperation and accelerated global action,” said Mongolia’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, and Chair at COP17 Sandag-Ochir Tsend….PACNEWS
