BSP on par with global peers, indicates ASX listing interest, eyes Australasia
Papua New Guinea’s regional bank BSP will revisit an earlier plan to list on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). In a message to shareholders last week informing them on the progress of the company, BSP Group
Customs revenue badly hit by COVID
The decline in revenue collections for governments through its border agencies was a major topic of discussion at the Oceania Customs Organisation’s 22nd Annual Conference, held virtually for the first time in its
Solomons employers developing COVID-19 HR guide
The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce is working with the local Human Resource Practitioners Network to develop an employer guide to managing workplaces during COVID-19. Development of the guide comes as uncertainty
Fiame’s new chapter
“It’s very liberating. I haven’t felt this excited about politics for a long time,” says Samoa’s former Deputy Prime Minister, and now independent member, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa. In September, Fiame
The World’s toughest race: How can Fiji win
When World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji first screened earlier this year, international audiences vicariously took a road less travelled. The competition, which pitted 66 teams across 671 kilometres,
Nuclear ban treaty opens way for Pacific nuclear survivors
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, first adopted by the UN General Assembly in July 2017, will enter into force on 22 January, after the 50th signatory deposited its ratification of the treaty with the
Undiplomatic diplomats
Around the kava bowl in Suva, people were discussing some undiplomatic behaviour by Chinese diplomats last month. Then for day or two, reports that Chinese officials had intervened at a Taiwanese National Day ceremony
The New International Economic Order: Learning from history
Post-COVID-19 propositions for various sectors of the economy currently abound. Credit to those who are churning out these fine ideas for public consumption. One in particular, by Dr. Transform Aqorau: ‘Imagining a
Huge costs likely to delay more hydro projects in PNG
The development of more hydro power schemes in Papua New Guinea is years away and buyers are needed if they are be financially viable. The latest international company to sign an MOU to explore hydro is Australia’s
PNG’s first Special Economic Zone gets nod
The PNG government has approved and agreed to provide K100m (US$28.5 million) to kick start the country’s first Special Economic Zone, creating up to half a million jobs directly and indirectly in the country when it
Rio ready to discuss Bougainville clean-up
Global miner Rio Tinto says it is ready to discuss cleaning up the site of the giant gold and copper site which it abandoned in 2016, four months after destroying a 46,000 year-old Aboriginal site in Western Australia.
Local competitors conquer Eco-Challenge Fiji
After paddling, hiking, sailing, biking and climbing as part of the World’s Toughest Race: Eco Challenge Fiji, how does it feel when you finally cross that finish line? “I was so thrilled. I was waiting for it for a
[VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT] MSG Secretariat (Vanuatu-based): Director-General
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT READVERTISEMENT – DIRECTOR GENERAL In accordance with the recent MSG Governing Body decisions dated 12th February 2020, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat now
Women Micro-entrepreneurs Graduate from First South Pacific Business Development’s (SPBD) Business Accelerator Program
The first and only Business Accelerator Program for micro-entrepreneurs in Fiji has successfully graduated nine businesswomen in a simple ceremony on 6th November 2020. This intensive six-month program, which combines
SPBD Fiji Bloom Accelerator Program
The goal of the Fiji Bloom Business Accelerator program is to develop a culturally tailored and gender-focused accelerator to provide ambitious entrepreneurs in Fiji’s rural villages with the support needed to take
Fijian Holdings Ltd profits drop by 75% in 2020
One of Fiji’s biggest investment companies has reported a significant reduction in annual profit, directly blamed on the impact of COVID-19 upon its business activities. The publicly listed Fijian Holdings Ltd
InDepth: Former FijiTV CEO, Ken Clark
In 1999, Canadian broadcaster, Ken Clark, moved to Fiji to take over operations of a television station operated until then by New Zealanders. Over an eventful career in the islands, Clark grew the company into a
Cook Islands opens seabed minerals exploration
Companies interested in conducting seabed minerals exploration work in Cook Islands have until December to put in their Expressions of Interest. This was announced by Prime Minister Mark Brown in an elaborate ceremony
Solomon Airlines struggles amid prolonged COVID-19 impact
The need to survive and keep a national asset afloat is taking a heavy toll on Solomon Airlines. In an open letter to stakeholders this week, Solomon Airlines CEO Brett Gebers outlined a number of measures the
Dr William May Highlights Importance of Bioethics
It is important to value the significance of bioethics and its application in the medical fields and life in general, says Fiji National University’s (FNU), Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr William May. Dr May highlighted
Foreign Ministers prepare for Forum leaders meeting
COVID, climate and oceans were high on the agenda, as foreign ministers and officials from around the region met online on 14 October, for the 2020 Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting (FFMM). This year’s ministerial
Cook Islands ratifies PACER Plus
The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus) is to come into force with the Cook Islands ratifying the agreement this week. Cook Islands is the eighth signatory to PACER Plus, joining Australia,
Chief Executive Awarded Commemorative Medal from His Excellency the President of the Fiji Islands
Recognition for his contribution in the continuous efforts in improving the lives of persons with disabilities in Fiji, the Pacific region and beyond, has seen the Chief Executive of the Pacific Disability Forum receive
Rio ready to discuss Bougainville clean-up after claims it ‘side-stepped’ responsibilities
Global miner Rio Tinto says it is ready to discuss cleaning up the site of the gold and copper Panguna mine which it abandoned in 2016, a move locals say was designed to allow the miner to entirely avoid the costs of