Opinion: Strengthening Pacific regionalism for robust globalisation
Pacific Islands Forum leaders "renewed their collective support for the ‘Leaders’ Commitments to 2050" as articulated in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent when they met in Nadi in February. They also
WTO fisheries agreement awaits ratification
The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) says members need to move faster on ratifying a fisheries agreement that would ban subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. “We need
Fiji tuna symposium considers industry’s future
Ten years ago, Suva port was one of the region’s most preferred ports for foreign vessels fishing in the western and central Pacific ocean, says the president of the Fiji Fishing Industry Association (FFIA). Speaking
Fish surveys in your pocket
The era of filling out paper forms, mountains of paperwork, and cabinets full of documents containing fish catch surveys could be nearing an end with the increased uptake of the Ikasavea app. The Pacific Community (SPC)
Rob Ruha champions Te Reo Maori in his songs
“It’s really cool” was Maori musician, Rob Ruha’s reaction to recently topping the Pacific charts with his song Taera. “I’m a little bit overwhelmed being number one on the Pacific charts,” says
Whispers
Questions over ‘Emerald Bay’ Fresh from their campaign to ‘Save the Tiri’ in Nasese, Suva from tourism development, environmental campaigners are airing concerns over another development close to the capital.
Briefs
American SamoaAmerican Samoa has issued a public health emergency after an outbreak of measles has spread across the U.S. territory. Dr Scott Anesi, the department’s lead epidemiologist, said 31 suspected cases
Longer timeframes in development
Short-term project cycles are failing island communities because it is not considerate of communities’ realities, and it does not allow for critical first steps like addressing complex systemic issues. We believe that
A sacred crop affected by climate change
The jarring sound of men hocking spit contrasts sharply with the quiet conversation and humming cicadas at Port Vila’s waterside Nagotambo Nakamal at dusk. "It's like, [the] nectar of the gods. It's sacred,”
Islands Business March 2023 edition
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Correspondent bank danger persists
The loss of correspondent banking services, limited financial inclusion, a potential increase in non-performing loans and difficulty accessing credit are amongst the challenges the financial sector in the Pacific
Banking: A regional overview
At the end of 2022, the Papua New Guinea government signalled its intent to set up a state-owned commercial bank, and take a government seat on the board of Bank South Pacific. The plan has been criticised given the
Growing insurance in the Pacific
A vibrant ‘insurance movement’ is “disrupting the historical status quo of insurance coverage access being largely confined to medium to high income urbanites,” says the General Secretary of the United Nations
Micro-insurance gaining ground
Parametric insurance programs are seeing increasing payouts to farmers, social welfare participants and persons with disabilities, and increased interest in the micro-insurance schemes. In Fiji, 202 persons with
Measuring vulnerability for development
Once again, people in Vanuatu are rebuilding their homes after two cyclones hit the nation in the first week of March. It’s a tragic reminder of the vulnerability of small island developing states and the way that
Building a vision for Pacific agriculture
The lack of a regional vision for agriculture and forestry is “one of our biggest challenges”, says the Director of the Land Resources Division of the Pacific Community, Karen Mapusua. But this is poised to change,
Noni juice inching closer to exports
There is good news for noni exporters and producers across the region, with some progress towards having regional standards for fermented noni juice. Nonu (noni) is an important agricultural export in Samoa,
Vunivalu of Bau installed after 33 year wait
On a day when ancient Fijian ceremonies were revived and magnificently on display, Ratu Epenisa Seru Cakobau was formally installed as the Vunivalu of Bau on Friday 10th March 2023. The much anticipated installation of
Investing for tourism growth
The rebound in Fiji tourism has again exposed a vulnerability that an upcoming tourism investment summit seeks to address; the shortage of rooms to meet projected arrivals. Citing Fiji Airways’ forecasts and new route
Sigatoka River Safari: The power of relationships
When Jay Whyte was 13, he befriended a guard at the Shangri-La Fijian Resort in Sigatoka, who introduced the Australian visitor and his family to an authentic Fijian experience up in the green terrain of Navosa. It was
2050 Strategy is essentially political
Regionalists generally identify three characteristics of regionalism, namely: economics, security and politics. Economic regionalism focuses on economic and financial aspects. Generally speaking, this is effectively an
Whispers
FijiFirst resignations continue The spate of resignations from Fiji’s former ruling party, FijiFirst, does not spell the end of the party says its General Secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. The latest resignation is
Briefs
American SamoaAmerican Samoa’s Department of Health says it will only allow school aged children who are vaccinated to attend school. This as neighbouring Samoa monitors several children suspected to have measles. The
