Economic diversification is key for Fiji
Fiji’s recovery is good; however it needs to diversify its economy said Dr Kishti Sen, ANZ Pacific Economist, during his visit to Fiji last week. “Our expectations towards the end of last year was that the tourism
Niue premier warns against falsifying travel documents
The Niue government is concerned as allegations emerge of passengers falsifying travel application requirements while the Health Department continues investigations into the origin of the index case of the current
PNG facing downgrade, says Popoitai
Frustrated by the lack of prosecution of financially-motivated crime cases, Bank of PNG has warned that the country’s global standing and cost of banking could be affected as a result. Bank of Papua New Guinea acting
PNG proposed carbon credit law queried
Hiri-Koiari MP Keith Iduhu has asked in Papua New Guinea Parliament for an update on a proposed amendment by the Forestry Authority to include forestry produce under its authority. This would include classifying carbon
Fisheries important to recover Pacific economies
Pacific Fisheries Ministers have identified maximising value from their fisheries as key to supporting the economic recovery from COVID-19. This was raised by delegates at the annual 19th Forum Fisheries Committee
PNGDF probe shooting in PNG waters
Papua New Guinea’s Defence Force has set the terms of reference to start off internal investigations into the shooting of an Indonesian fisherman in PNG waters allegedly by soldiers last week following the
Air Vanuatu confirms interim plan with lessor to safeguard 737
The national airline Air Vanuatu has confirmed that its Boeing 737 is at risk of repossession by its lessor. Air Vanuatu owed USD$8 million lease payments to American Leasing Company (ALC), which is approximately VT897
PNG remain neutral with issues in the APEC region: Marape
Papua New Guineans will not be caught up in the fight between the Eastern and Western countries but will maintain its stand on being friends to all and enemy to none. Prime Minister, James Marape made this known when
Opinion: Assessing Remittances Potential to Build Climate Resilience in the Pacific
While contributing very little to global warming, Pacific Island nations are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, already experiencing extreme climate-induced disasters such as tropical cyclones.
PNG to likely join NRL by 2025: Hill
Australia’s Foreign Ministry is working with PNG Sports executives to get the NRL bid up and running. Australia’s Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong said this when appearing at NBC National Radio. She said
Opinion: The Pacific Labour Scheme and the Royal Commission into Aged Care
In Suva, new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took a smiling selfie with Fijian aged care workers, who are preparing to come to Australia to look after our elderly in a new pilot program. Raising the standard of aged
PNG youth carrying weapons ‘becoming a norm’
The rise in the use of a newly invented weapon called the wire-catapult or “silencer” is a big concern for East Sepik Province in Papua New Guinea, says East Sepik Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Superintendent
PNG negotiates security pact with Australia
Papua New Guinea’s new Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko has revealed his country is moving to negotiate a security treaty with Australia — and potentially New Zealand — in a move that could have far-reaching
Air Vanuatu YJ-AV12 twin-otter repossessed
Air Vanuatu’s YJ-AV12 twin-otter has been redelivered to Hevilift, a Papua New Guinea based Aviation Service Business which owns the aircraft, last week. A reliable source confirmed the aircraft was repossessed
Roch Wamytan re-elected President of New Caledonia Congress
Pro-independence leader Roch Wamytan has been re-elected President of the Congress of New Caledonia. It is Wamytan’s fourth successive term in this position. He received 29 votes in favour of his re-election and
PNG Election ‘severely flawed’, report shows
Transparency International PNG has described the accumulated failures in the preparation, conduct, delivery and conclusion of the 2022 PNG General Election as being a severely flawed process. TIPNG in its preliminary
West Papua: conflict continues, Indonesian soldiers arrested
Six Indonesian soldiers have been arrested on suspicion of killing and mutilating four indigenous Papuans. The soldiers are accused of luring their victims to a meeting with the promise of selling them weapons.
‘Everyone’s business’ – Vanuatu reopens to tourists
Vanuatu reopened to tourists on July 1, but there is still some work to do to reopen properties that have been shuttered for two years and fill frontline tourism positions. Virgin Australia says it will resume its
Whispers
Kiribati’s constitutional crisis Kiribati’s constitutional crisis over the status of high court judge David Lambourne continues. This month, the court of appeal ruled that government orders to deport Lambourne
A note from the editor
This month, Islands Business was able to attend the Forum Economic Ministers meeting in Vanuatu. You’ll see coverage of some of the big issues discussed at FEMM—climate and resilience financing and supply chain
More home games but more growth expected: Fijian Drua CEO
Fijian Drua will have more home games in their second year of Super Rugby in 2023 but may not see a big improvement in results, says new CEO Mark Evans on Tuesday. The Drua managed two wins to finish 11th in the 12-team
Climate finance crunch
The Pacific Islands Forum is taking another look at its ambitions to take control of resilience funding following the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Vanuatu this month. The hybrid meeting saw attending delegates
Porgera, prices and access
The government of Papua New Guinea’s newly re-elected Prime Minister, James Marape will be focused on building investor confidence and getting Porgera reopened, as it begins its new term. In his first speech to
