In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — 430 million face hypertension threat in Western Pacific
2. PNG — More PNG citizens able to enlist in Australian military
3. PACIFIC — Israel granted request to become partner in Pacific Islands Forum
4. FIJI — Two candidates in the running for Fiji Attorney-General
5. PACIFIC — Pacific nations seek stronger sea-level protection
6. FIJI — Children account for 58.5 percent of Fiji’s rape, sexual offence victims
7. PACIFIC — RNZAF carries out surveillance work for Vanuatu agencies and FFA
8. FIJI — Strong El Niño threatens Fiji’s sugarcane belt with prolonged dry spells
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Remote Kiribati atoll hosts shipping AGM
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Tuvalu to host shipping talks
11. PACNEWS BIZ — ANZ urges Fiji customers to be alert to bank impersonation scams
12. PACNEWS BIZ — ASEAN membership could be catalyst for more balanced Timor-Leste economy: ANZ research
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Beyond Conservation: What the High Seas Treaty Means for Ocean Governance and Security in the Blue Pacific
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Niue communities benefit from new small grants for local initiatives
PAC – HEALTH: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 21 Oct 2026
430 million face hypertension threat in Western Pacific
By Pita Ligaiula
MANILA, 21 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—About 430 million people across the Western Pacific are affected by hypertension, putting millions at risk of heart disease, stroke and premature death as health ministers meet to accelerate action on the region’s major health threats.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says hypertension control remains poor across much of the region, with rates below 10 percent in some Pacific island countries and areas, highlighting a major gap in the prevention and treatment of noncommunicable diseases.
The warning comes as health ministers and senior officials gather for the 77th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, being held from 19 to 22 October to address stalled progress in hypertension control, tobacco reduction and immunisation, while considering safeguards for the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, said the agenda was both ambitious and urgent, with governments facing increasing pressure to deliver health services amid economic constraints, ageing populations, rising noncommunicable diseases and climate-related health threats.
“By addressing hypertension and the harms of tobacco, we can make significant progress on a range of noncommunicable diseases, from cardiovascular disease and stroke to different kinds of cancer,” Piukala said.
He said closing immunisation gaps was also critical to protecting children and young people from preventable diseases, including measles and polio.
The Regional Committee will consider four action plans to guide WHO cooperation and support for countries and areas across the region.
Hypertension is a major concern, affecting about 430 million people in the Western Pacific. One in three adults lives with the condition, which increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, disability and premature death.
Control rates remain below 20 percent in many countries and below 10 percent in some Pacific island countries and areas.
The proposed regional plan aims to improve detection, treatment and control of high blood pressure, with approaches suited to small island communities, remote rural areas and densely populated cities.
Tobacco control is another priority, with tobacco use causing about three million deaths annually across the region.
Most countries are not on track to achieve the target of reducing tobacco use by 30 percent by 2030.
WHO has identified the growing use of e-cigarettes among young people, tobacco industry interference and slow progress on taxation and enforcement as key challenges.
The proposed action plan seeks to accelerate measures to reduce tobacco use and strengthen progress towards the 2030 target.
On immunisation, WHO says progress has slowed and, in some settings, reversed, leaving the region off track to meet key targets under Immunisation Agenda 2030.
The proposed plan prioritises reaching children who have never received a vaccine, improving coverage among under-immunised populations, sustaining measles elimination and expanding vaccination across all stages of life.
The fourth action plan addresses the growing use of artificial intelligence in public health.
The proposed guidance on responsible AI in health aims to help countries use the technology safely and ethically, including to expand essential health services to underserved communities.
It sets out three operational frameworks covering the selection of priority AI applications, the systems and resources needed to support them, and the development of institutional and workforce capacity.
Dr Piukala said AI could help health systems reach communities that have traditionally been difficult to serve, provided the technology was used responsibly.
“By harnessing the immense potential of AI, ensuring we employ this technology safely, ethically and effectively, we can reach the unreached in ways we could scarcely have believed possible not that long ago,” he said.
The meeting will also hold a ministerial roundtable on establishing a regional essential health stockpile through pooled procurement, aimed at strengthening access to critical medical supplies.
A separate discussion with civil society partners will examine efforts to support healthy ageing as countries respond to changing population needs.
The session also marks the final time WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will attend a Western Pacific Regional Committee meeting before completing his second and final term next year.
Dr Piukala paid tribute to Tedros for leading the organisation through major global health challenges.
“He has consistently defended science when it was questioned, solidarity when it was tested and multilateralism when it came under pressure,” Piukala said.
“While our Director-General’s tenure may be moving towards its conclusion, his place in our Western Pacific family will always remain.”
The Regional Committee is WHO’s governing body for the Western Pacific Region and brings together Member States to set regional health priorities and guide cooperation on public health challenges…..PACNEWS
PNG – DEFENCE: AAP PACNEWS 1: Wed 21 Oct 2026
More PNG citizens able to enlist in Australian military
PORT MORESBY, 21 OCTOBER 2026 (AAP)—More Papua New Guinea citizens have been given a green light to join the Australian military as part of strengthening ties between the two countries.
Up to 100 PNG citizens still living in the country will be able to apply for a spot in the Australian Defence Force from mid-November as part of a pilot program.
The announcement followed ministerial talks between the two countries in Port Moresby on Tuesday.
It was the first round of ministerial discussions since Australia and Papua New Guinea signed a landmark defence alliance known as the Pukpuk Treaty in October 2025.
Eligible permanent residents in Australia who are PNG citizens were able to join the ADF from January 2026, but the pilot program will expand eligibility to people living in PNG.
The pilot programme will have two cohorts of up to 50 eligible people to join the defence force over two years.
The first lot of candidates will be able officially join the ADF from late 2027, with recruitment focused on university students in Port Moresby and Lae.
Defence Minister Richard Marles, who was in Port Moresby for the ministerial talks, said expanding recruitment eligibility for the military showed how the two countries were closely linked.
“Not only is this a huge moment for the Australian Defence Force, but also for the history of Papua New Guinea, and our bilateral relationship,” he said in a statement.
“Our shared commitment to interoperability has made the recruitment of Papua New Guinean citizens into the ADF a reality.”
So far, there have been 40 active applications from PNG citizens who are also permanent residents in Australia.
PNG citizens living in Papua New Guinea will still need to meet ADF eligibility criteria in order to join Australia’s military.
They will also have to be between 18 and 25-years-old, be a student or recent graduate from select universities and have had no current or previous service in Papua New Guinea’s military.
Recruits from Papua New Guinea will be able to serve for all three branches of the military.
Marles said while the pilot program would start small, it was hoped it could be expanded in future years.
“I look forward to welcoming eligible Papua New Guineans into our defence force, and seeing them serve shoulder-to-shoulder with our people,” he said…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: TIMES OF ISRAEL PACNEWS 1: Wed 21 Oct 2026
Israel granted request to become partner in Pacific Islands Forum
JERUSALEM/SUVA, 21 OCTOBER 2026 (TIMES OF ISRAEL)—Israel has joined the Pacific Islands Forum as a partner, the Foreign Ministry announces.
The ministry says that Forum Secretary General, Baron Waqa informed Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar of the decision following a meeting of the Forum in Palau.
Sa’ar submitted a request to join during a trip to Fiji in June.
The ministry points out that three PIF members — Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Nauru — have opened embassies in Jerusalem in recent years.
Israel will now be able to participate in the Forum’s Sectoral Partnership Stream, the ministry adds, noting Israel’s ability to contribute in the areas of “water management, desalination, agriculture, climate change adaptation, innovation and sustainable development.”….PACNEWS
FIJI – AG: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Wed 21 Oct 2026
Two candidates in the running for Fiji Attorney-General
SUVA, 21 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has submitted two names to the Solicitor-General for consideration for the position of Attorney-General.
Speaking to the Fiji Times, Rabuka said Solicitor-General Ropate Green would vet the nominees to determine whether they were qualified for the position.
“I have given two names,” he said.
“I gave one name to the Solicitor-General, and another name came up.
“So, he has two names to vet.
“See if they are qualified, and then they will have to be asked whether they agree or not.
“So at the moment I’m not mentioning those names.”
Rabuka said the appointment would be made “as quickly as possible”.
“Because we need them to be working with us, not sitting here, but in the background.”
The position became vacant following the resignation of former acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga, who resigned as Minister for Justice and acting Attorney-General on October 13 after an explicit video was shared on his official Facebook page……PACNEWS
PAC – SEALEVEL RISE: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Wed 21 Oct 2026
Pacific nations seek stronger sea-level protection
NEW YORK, 21 OCTOBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—Pacific nations have called for stronger legal protections, more climate finance, and urgent emissions cuts after adopting a United Nations declaration on sea-level rise.
During a UN General Assembly debate on October 12, countries raised concerns about maritime boundaries, statehood, human rights and access to climate finance. Countries adopted the declaration on September 24, 2026.
Papua New Guinea said negotiations had weakened key provisions of the declaration to secure agreement among all countries. It warned that consensus should not come at the expense of stronger protections for vulnerable nations.
Palau, speaking on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum, called for accessible and predictable climate finance, including support for the Pacific Resilience Facility, and urgent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. It said rising seas were already affecting coastal communities, freshwater resources, food security and critical infrastructure.
Kiribati, representing Pacific Small Island Developing States, called for stronger protection of the human rights of people affected by sea-level rise and simpler access to climate finance.
Tuvalu said rising seas must not undermine its statehood, sovereignty or maritime entitlements.
“Our rights under international law cannot be allowed to sink with our islands. Our maritime entitlement must endure,” Tuvalu told the Assembly.
Vanuatu called for stronger implementation, warning that sea levels around the country could rise by up to 122 centimetres by the end of the century, potentially making more land uninhabitable.
Pacific representatives welcomed the declaration but stressed that its impact would depend on practical action, stronger legal protections and adequate funding for vulnerable communities…..PACNEWS
FIJI – SEXUAL OFFENCE: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 21 Oct 2026
Children account for 58.5 percent of Fiji’s rape, sexual offence victims
SUVA, 21 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Children accounted for more than half of the rape and sexual offence victims recorded in Fiji in 2025, with some victims as young as four and five, reveals Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran.
Kiran revealed the figures today during the closing of the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child celebration in Suva.
She said the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions’ 2025 report recorded 135 victims of rape and sexual offences, of whom 79, or 58.5percent, were children under 18.
“Most devastatingly, many of these cases involve familial abuse,” she said.
Department of Children records showed 16,770 child welfare cases between 2012 and 2025, including 5239 cases of neglect and 3195 cases of physical abuse.
Police also recorded 1703 missing persons cases between 2021 and 2025, with children accounting for 46 percent.
Kiran said the figures highlighted the need for stronger child protection measures and urgent action to address neglect, abuse and unsafe relationships.
“These numbers are a severe wake-up call. Child neglect, missing youth, and sexual violence are deeply interconnected crises. We cannot look away,” she said.
Speaking under the theme ‘End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights, Kiran said the legal age of marriage in Fiji was 18, but concerns remained about girls under that age entering relationships with older men.
She said some girls left school, became pregnant and struggled to support themselves when their relationships broke down.
Kiran urged children who experienced abuse to speak up and never keep it secret, even when the person responsible was a family member or someone they trusted.
“Abuse is NEVER your fault,” she said.
She also warned children about online dangers, including adults pretending to be children to gain their trust. She urged them not to share personal information or private photographs with strangers.
Children who felt unsafe or experienced abuse could seek help from a trusted adult or call the free Child Helpline on 1325.
Kiran reminded teachers to take reports of suspected abuse seriously and report concerns through official channels. She also urged parents to build trust with their children and monitor their online activities.
“When we protect our girls, we protect Fiji’s future. And when we teach our boys to respect and protect others, we build a stronger, safer nation for everyone,” she said..
Meanwhile, the Online Safety Commission does not have the legal authority to ban TikTok or any other social media platform under Fiji’s current laws, Commissioner Filipe Batiwale has clarified.
Speaking amid growing concerns about harmful online content, particularly sexually explicit material reaching children and young people, Mr Batiwale said any move to restrict or ban a platform would require careful consideration of legal, constitutional and wider social implications.
He said the commission’s role focused on addressing online harm and supporting victims, rather than blocking access to social media applications.
Batiwale acknowledged public concerns about content circulating on platforms such as TikTok but questioned how harmful material continued to evade moderation systems.
He called on social media companies to strengthen safeguards and take greater responsibility for content appearing on their platforms.
The commissioner made the comments as the Online Safety Commission continues to push for reforms to the Online Safety Act 2018.
He said the ongoing legislative review presented an opportunity to address gaps in investigative and enforcement powers, clarify the responsibilities of online platforms and consider additional prosecutorial powers with appropriate safeguards.
Batiwale said the commission would contribute its frontline experience to the review led by the Fiji Law Reform Commission.
He said the ultimate goal was to ensure Fiji had a practical and enforceable legal framework capable of responding to online abuse, including harassment, impersonation, threats, sextortion and the sharing of intimate images.
The commissioner also renewed calls for greater investment in online safety, including a dedicated digital forensic laboratory, specialist investigators and stronger enforcement powers to better protect Fijians from growing digital threats….PACNEWS
PAC – MARITIME SURVEILLENCE: NZDF PACNEWS 1: Wed 21 Oct 2026
RNZAF carries out surveillance work for Vanuatu agencies and FFA
PORT VILA, 21 OCTOBER 2026 (NZDF)—The Royal New Zealand Air Force has carried out maritime surveillance and reconnaissance patrols for the Government of Vanuatu and Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) this month.
An MC-12K King Air and crew from No. 42 Squadron, supported by civilian maintainers from Jet Aviation New Zealand, was based in Port Vila for two weeks.
The crew received intelligence and taskings from the Vanuatu Police Maritime Unit, Vanuatu Transnational Crime Squad, Vanuatu Fisheries Office, Forum Fisheries Agency, and Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office (VNDMO).
Officers from the agencies were embarked for the flights, with particular interest in surveillance of “dark vessels” – those that deliberately hide their identification, location or ownership while at sea.
Several fishing vessels and pleasure craft were recorded, with information provided to the Vanuatu agencies and FFA for follow-up.
The VNDMO also requested updated imagery of the Ambrym and Ambae volcanoes, and overflight of these showed lakes and steaming fissures as well as lava erupting from the eastern crater of Ambrym.
Officer Commanding No. 42 Squadron, Squadron Leader Craig Clark, said the operation was extremely successful.
“We were able to support the Government of Vanuatu in their efforts to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and transnational organised crime.
“We provided the imagery they need for evidence and to build a picture of what may be illegal activity occurring in their waters,” he said…..PACNEWS
FIJI – SUGAR INDUSTRY: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Wed 21 Oct 2026
Strong El Niño threatens Fiji’s sugarcane belt with prolonged dry spells
SUVA, 21 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Sugarcane farmers across Fiji are being warned to prepare for prolonged dry spells and increasing pressure on crop production as a strong El Niño event is forecast to intensify and continue into early 2027.
The Fiji Sugarcane Rainfall Outlook, issued on 16 October by the Fiji Meteorological Service and Sugar Research Institute of Fiji (SRIF), warns that the ongoing El Niño event could reach the very strong category.
The outlook indicates that suppressed rainfall will persist across major sugarcane-growing areas during October, November and December.
For October, there is a 75 percent chance of receiving at least 0–25 millimetres of rainfall in sugarcane-growing areas from Sigatoka to Tavua, while Rakiraki and Vanua Levu are expected to receive at least 25–50 millimetres.
Rainfall is expected to remain suppressed in November, with a 75percent chance of at least 25–50 millimetres from Olosara to Penang and 50–100 millimetres in Dobuilevu and across Vanua Levu.
Dry conditions are also forecast for December, with at least 25–50 millimetres expected from Olosara to Tavua and 50–100 millimetres in Rakiraki and Vanua Levu.
For the three-month period from November 2026 to January 2027, the outlook indicates a 75percent chance of receiving at least 200–300 millimetres across sugarcane-growing areas from Olosara to Tavua.
Higher rainfall totals of 300–400 millimetres are forecast for Penang and areas from Seaqaqa to SRIF Batanikama, while Dobuilevu, Wainikoro and Vunivutu could receive 400–500 millimetres.
The advisory warns that El Niño conditions in Fiji are commonly associated with reduced rainfall, increasing the risk of prolonged dry spells, declining water availability and stress on crops and livestock.
Farmers are being urged to prioritise soil moisture conservation through trash blanketing and mulching, while avoiding unnecessary cultivation that exposes soil moisture.
SRIF has also advised growers to avoid burning standing cane and green trash after harvesting and to maintain firebreaks to reduce the risk of plantation fires.
Non-essential new planting should be delayed until clearer rainfall signals emerge, while farmers in the driest areas between Sigatoka and Tavua have been advised to postpone single-dose fertiliser applications until rainfall improves.
The institute also warned that hot and dry conditions could encourage outbreaks of aphids, mealybugs, scale insects and armyworms.
Farmers have been advised to inspect fields twice weekly and treat affected areas early to prevent pests from spreading.
Major pest outbreaks, diseases and unusual crop conditions should be reported to SRIF on 8921839.
The next sugarcane rainfall outlook is scheduled for 30 October….PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
KIRIBATI – SHIPPING: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 21 Oct 2026
Remote Kiribati atoll hosts shipping AGM
BUTARITARI, 21 OCTOBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—Butaritari, Kiribati’s northern most island, hosted the 12th annual general meeting of the Central Pacific Shipping Commission (CPSC) for the first time.
Members from CPSC countries arrived on Butaritari on four chartered flights from Tarawa. CPSC Chair and Butaritari MP Alexander Teabo opened the ceremony at the Butaritari Island Council compound.
CPSC was established in 2010 to regulate and improve international commercial shipping services, mainly for small island developing states in the Central Pacific, including Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tuvalu, and Wallis and Futuna.
Kiribati’s Director for Marine, Ruoikabuti Tion, told the BPA that the commission was established mainly to address shortages in these countries, which face challenges importing goods due to limited purchasing power.
“Cargo shortages in these countries were a major issue in those days because they have little power to import,” said Ruoikabuti.
Transport ministers from five member countries created this commission because they faced similar problems.
Shipping companies are now seeking to serve CPSC member countries, which are expected to provide and maintain balanced route coverage, plus services to both profitable and less profitable routes and small ports.
The commission’s establishment and the member countries’ continued performance have helped address the shortage of cargo in Kiribati.
“We are happy that the shortage of cargo in Kiribati is no longer a problem, and this is the result of the hard work and dedication of transport ministers from these countries through the establishment of the CPSC,” said Ruoikabuti.
The 12th AGM offers member countries a chance to keep working together to strengthen shipping services and improve reliable cargo supplies throughout the Pacific.
Shipping companies currently serving under CPSC members include SWIRE, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), KYOWA Shipping Company Ltd, Neptune Pacific Direct Line (NPDL), and Matson…..PACNEWS
PAC – SHIPPING: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 21 Oct 2026
Tuvalu to host shipping talks
BUTARITARII, 21 OCTOBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —Kiribati has handed over the chair of the Central Pacific Shipping Commission to Tuvalu after an annual general meeting on Buataritari.
Tuvalu Transport Secretary Simalua Enele Taliu took over leadership from his Kiribati counterpart, Alexander Teabo.
Taliu thanked Kiribati for hosting the meeting and acknowledged the people of Butaritari for their hospitality.
He reaffirmed Tuvalu’s commitment to strengthening regional shipping cooperation, highlighting the importance of reliable shipping services for small island countries facing economic and geographical challenges due to their size and isolation.
Tuvalu will support the meeting’s outcomes and acknowledged the contributions of shipping operators in addressing regional transport challenges.
Tuvalu will host the 13th CPSC Annual General Meeting next year…..PACNEWS
FIJI – SCAMS: ANZ PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 21 Oct 2026
ANZ urges Fiji customers to be alert to bank impersonation scams
SUVA, 21 OCTOBER 2026 (ANZ)—ANZ is urging customers and the wider community in Fiji to remain vigilant following reports of scammers impersonating ANZ and seeking personal and banking information.
The reported activity has primarily involved unexpected phone calls. Callers have asked people for account numbers and identification or personal information, including birth certificates and source of funds information, under the guise of updating customer records. Reports indicate the calls are not limited to ANZ customers.
ANZ may legitimately contact customers to update customer information or meet its customer identification requirements. If you receive such a call and are unsure it is genuine, do not provide the information immediately. End the call and contact ANZ independently using an official ANZ contact channel to confirm the request.
ANZ Head of Retail Pacific, Melanie Culling, said people should pause and verify any unexpected contact claiming to be from the bank.
“Scammers can sound convincing and may create a sense of urgency to encourage people to share information or act quickly. If you receive an unexpected call, message or email claiming to be from ANZ, stop and check before doing anything,” Culling said.
“Never share sensitive banking information such as your PIN, card security code, ANZ Shield code or one-time passcodes, and never transfer money to a so-called ‘safe’ account at someone else’s request.”
Customers can help protect themselves by following three simple steps: Stop, Check and Protect.
Stop: If something feels wrong, pause before you act.
Check: Independently verify that the person contacting you is really from ANZ. Use an official ANZ phone number or official banking channel rather than contact details supplied by the caller or message.
Protect: Do not share sensitive banking or personal information, provide remote access to your device, or transfer money if you have any doubt.
People should also be cautious of unexpected requests to click links, visit external websites, download software or provide documents and personal information.
ANZ has been displaying bank impersonation scam warnings to Fiji customers through Internet Banking and the ANZ App and will continue the messaging.
Anyone who believes they may have shared personal or banking information with a scammer, or transferred money as a result of a scam, should contact ANZ as soon as possible using an official ANZ contact channel….PACNEWS
TIMOR – ECONOMY: ANZ PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 21 Oct 2026
ASEAN membership could be catalyst for more balanced Timor-Leste economy: ANZ Research
DILI, 21 0CTOBER 2026 (ANZ)–Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN could help accelerate the country’s transition towards a more diversified economy, opening new opportunities for trade, investment, agriculture, tourism and downstream processing, according to new ANZ Research.
The latest ANZ Pacific Insight, Timor-Leste: ASEAN accession a catalyst for balanced economy status, finds the economy has recorded solid growth in recent years, with real GDP growth averaging 3.8 percent a year between 2021 and 2025.
ANZ Research forecasts growth of around 4% over the next two years, supported by public demand.
But ANZ Senior Pacific Economist Kishti Sen said developing new sources of income and broadening Timor-Leste’s economic drivers would become increasingly important.
“Timor-Leste has recorded solid growth, but the next stage of its development will require a broader base of economic activity.
“ASEAN membership provides an important opportunity to accelerate that transition by improving access to regional markets and creating a platform to attract greater private investment.”
Consumption currently accounts for around 85 percent of Timor-Leste’s domestic demand, with government transfers supporting household consumption and public-sector wages contributing to government expenditure.
At the same time, Timor-Leste’s Petroleum Fund, which has helped fund household transfers and recurrent government expenditure, is facing increasing drawdowns following the cessation of production at the Bayu Undan field in 2025. The Petroleum Fund currently holds around USD19 billion.
ANZ Research says Timor-Leste’s membership of ASEAN, which began in December 2025, gives the country greater access to a regional market comprising around 680 million consumers and USD3.6 trillion in GDP.
Sen said the opportunity extended beyond simply gaining access to a larger market.
“ASEAN provides the framework, but the real economic benefit will come from how Timor-Leste uses that opportunity.
“Institutional reform, together with stronger infrastructure, skills and connectivity, can help attract private capital, strengthen trade flows and support progress towards a more balanced economy into the 2030s.”
Agriculture, tourism and processing present opportunities
ANZ Research identifies high value-added agriculture, resource-linked processing industries and boutique tourism as realistic areas in which Timor-Leste can diversify its economy.
Rather than exporting commodities in their raw form, the report points to opportunities to add more value domestically through coffee roasting and packaging, coconut-based products, processed spices, and fish and seafood processing.
This could both lift the value of exports and create employment opportunities for Timor-Leste’s young population.
Tourism also presents an opportunity, with the report pointing to the potential for Timor-Leste to develop as a boutique adventure destination in Southeast Asia, built around a low-volume, high-value tourism model.
Sen said:“Timor-Leste’s opportunity isn’t necessarily mass industrialisation. A more realistic path is to build on the country’s existing strengths.
“Higher-value agriculture, downstream processing and a distinctive tourism offering could create new income and employment while progressively reducing reliance on the traditional drivers of growth.”
The Greater Sunrise gas project could provide another potential source of diversification if sanctioned before the end of the decade.
ANZ Research says commercialising Greater Sunrise could improve Timor-Leste’s growth outlook in the second half of the 2030s, with downstream processing potentially creating opportunities in areas including petrochemicals and energy-intensive manufacturing.
Sen said Timor-Leste had an opportunity to use ASEAN membership as a platform for the next stage of its economic development.
“The building blocks are there. The challenge now is to turn greater regional integration into investment, jobs and new industries.
“If Timor-Leste can do that, ASEAN membership could become an important catalyst for a more balanced and sustainable economy,” he said…. PACNEWS
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Beyond Conservation: What the High Seas Treaty Means for Ocean Governance and Security in the Blue Pacific
SUVA, 21 OCTOBER 2026 (UNDP)—Nobody lists the foundations when they describe their home, but nothing stands without them.
Across the Pacific, we see the villages, the homes, the community halls and the gatherings around the tanoa. Beneath all of it lies the ocean. Culture, identity and sustenance all rest on it. It is the fish on the table, the route between islands, but most importantly it is the story of where people come from.
When global leaders gathered in the Pacific earlier this month for Pre-COP31, the conversation focused on keeping 1.5°C within reach, improving access to climate finance and amplifying Pacific voices and leadership.
The other area of focus: elevating the oceans agenda.
What now sits on that agenda is changing, thanks in part to the entry into force this year of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.
Governments and partners are asking how the ocean is governed, managed and protected both within and beyond national jurisdiction. And while climate negotiations often focus on emissions and adaptation, Pacific leaders recognise the future of ocean governance as critical to sustaining the resilience, prosperity and security of the Blue Pacific.
Much of the discussion around BBNJ has focused on marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments and the protection of biodiversity in the high seas. But viewing the agreement solely through a conservation lens risks missing a broader story about the future of governance for our oceans.
The agreement therefore represents more than a conservation initiative. It is an attempt to strengthen collective stewardship of the world’s largest shared domain.
For the Pacific, few examples illustrate this more clearly than tuna. The Western and Central Pacific Ocean supplies more than half of the world’s tuna catch, making the region central to global fisheries and food systems. For many Pacific Island countries, tuna supports government revenue, employment and national development priorities.
Through the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, the Forum Fisheries Agency and regional fisheries management arrangements, Pacific countries have demonstrated that cooperation can strengthen stewardship, improve management and increase the value derived from shared marine resources.
BBNJ does not replace these arrangements, but it should learn from them.
As discussions advance on area-based management tools and future marine protected areas beyond national jurisdiction, attention is turning towards practical questions of monitoring, compliance and oversight. How will activities in such areas be monitored? Who is responsible for reporting violations? What information-sharing arrangements will be required? Which states have jurisdiction to act when rules are breached? These are fundamentally governance questions, but they also carry important security dimensions.
The relationship between BBNJ and security is often assumed rather than explained. The agreement is frequently discussed alongside concerns about illegal fishing, maritime crime and growing competition over ocean resources. Yet BBNJ is not primarily a security instrument. Its significance lies in strengthening the governance conditions that support maritime security through greater transparency, cooperation and collective oversight of activities beyond national jurisdiction.
As geopolitical interest in the ocean intensifies, the connection between governance and security will matter more. Competition over marine resources, ocean science, emerging technologies and strategic influence is already shaping how the ocean is governed. Against this backdrop, the agreement reinforces cooperative approaches to a vast global commons, providing shared rules and expectations at a time when demands on the ocean are testing existing arrangements.
For Pacific Island Countries, these implementation challenges are familiar. The region has long confronted the practical realities of governing vast maritime spaces with limited resources. Yet it is also precisely this experience that gives the Pacific a valuable voice in shaping how BBNJ evolves.
Pre-COP31 sent a strong signal that oceans must be front and centre at COP31. Pacific leaders and partners delivered a resounding call that climate action cannot be separated from ocean action, given the ocean’s critical role in regulating the Earth’s climate and sustaining Pacific communities.
A major outcome was Türkiye’s commitment to work towards an Antalya Ocean Declaration at COP31. The declaration is expected to strengthen recognition of the ocean-climate nexus and support greater action on ocean-based climate solutions, reflecting a key Pacific priority.
Foundations rarely make the news, until they crack. BBNJ is an attempt to reinforce one before it does.
For the Pacific, the next step is practical: ratification, readiness, and the monitoring and data systems that turn shared rules into shared oversight.
UNDP stands ready to support Pacific countries on that journey, from ratification and readiness to accessing finance for implementation, working alongside the Forum Fisheries Agency, regional partners and the Global Environment Facility.
The region has spent decades proving that cooperation can govern a vast ocean. That experience should shape how BBNJ works in practice. ..PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Niue communities benefit from new small grants for local initiatives
ALOFI, 21 OCTOBER 2026 (UNDP)– Communities and civil society organisations across Niue have received new funding and technical support through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP), helping strengthen local environmental stewardship, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.
At a grant award ceremony and inception workshop held on October 14th, 2026, in partnership with the Government of Niue, successful applicants under GEF-SGP Operational Phase 8 were awarded Low Value Grants to implement community-driven environmental initiatives. This was held to coincide with nation-wide celebrations of Niue’s Constitution Day this month.
Over the past 25 years, the programme has invested more than US$883,000 in 33 community-based projects across Niue, supporting activities ranging from climate awareness and advocacy to capacity building, technology transfer, climate adaptation, and mitigation efforts. An additional US$694,867 is available under Operational Phase 8 to support new local initiatives.
“One of the most valuable aspects of the SGP is that it begins with our people. It recognises that our communities possess the knowledge, experience and ideas that can make a real and lasting difference. When these local strengths are supported and nurtured, they can become powerful drivers of positive change,” said Rhonda Tiakia, Minister of Environment, Niue.
The grants are designed to place resources directly in the hands of communities, non-governmental organisations, and civil society groups that depend on natural resources for their livelihoods and are often on the frontline of climate and environmental challenges.
Successful grantees also participated in an inception workshop aimed at strengthening project management, financial accountability, and reporting skills. The training is intended to help recipients successfully implement their projects and maximize benefits for their communities.
“When communities are empowered with resources and technical support, they are best placed to develop solutions that respond to local needs while protecting the environment for future generations. UNDP is committed to continue working the Government and people of Niue in providing these resources and technical support,” said Leiataualetaua Anne Trevor, UNDP’s representative at the event in Niue.
UNDP acknowledged the continued support of the Government of Niue, the National Steering Committee, the Technical Advisory Group, and other partners who contribute to the effective implementation of the Small Grants Programme.
The newly funded projects are expected to deliver practical benefits for Niuean communities, including improved environmental conservation, stronger community capacity, increased climate resilience, and enhanced opportunities for sustainable development led by local communities…..PACNEWS
For media queries, please contact: Laufālē’ainā Lesā, Communications Analyst, UNDP Multi Country Office, Samoa | Tel. +685 23670 | E: laufaleaina.lesa@undp.org
