The Pacific e-commerce portal: Getting Pacific businesses online

A new Pacific e-commerce portal has been launched to help businesses transition from purely physical operation to online trading. The portal was launched by the Pacific Islands Forum yesterday, and includes

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Forum Economic Ministers Meeting: a marriage of national priorities and regional strategies

Islands Business reporter Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti has been talking to Pacific Islands ministers and officials at the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting about their economic priorities and regional opportunities.

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Opinion: Pacific aviation is struggling to take off after the pandemic – how can the ‘blue continent’ stay connected?

With Samoa fully reopening its borders on August 1, another Pacific country moved tentatively forwards after two years of border closures and little or no international tourism. But opening up is not as simple as

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Kiribati: First commercial flight since border lockdown

Kiribati was in celebration mode last Thursday as the island gathered at Bonriki International Airport to welcome the country’s first commercial flight, two and a half years since the island nation’s COVID-19

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After 865 days, Samoa reopens to tourists

Samoa reopens to international tourists again, 865 days after closing borders due to COVID-19.  Tuitaga Nathan Bucknall, manager of the Taumeasina Island Resort near Apia, said it’s been a long time

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‘It’s good to be back’ – Tonga border reopens

With hugs and tears, families were reunited at Tonga’s Fua’amotu International Airport, after arriving on an Air New Zealand, the first flight as Tonga re-opened its international border on Monday. Most of

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Movers and Shakers

Pacific health expert and Niue national Dr Collin Tukuitonga has been recognised with the Knight Companion of the New Zealand order of Merit in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours. Dr Tukuitonga said: “It’s

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“We absolutely must preserve the unity of the Forum”

French Polynesia at the regional summit For Jean-Christophe Bouissou, Vice President of French Polynesia, the 51st Pacific Islands Forum is an opportunity to highlight the ongoing challenge of climate change for the

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BSP Life paid $67M in 2021 and $40M so far in 2022

MEDIA RELEASE5th July 2022 BSP Life today announced it processed 75,000 benefits worth F$67 million in 2021, averaging $250,000 each working day. Life insurance maturities and living benefits totalled $44 million. Death

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Cop that! Preparing for climate talks in Egypt – and the Pacific?

As leaders gather in Suva for the 51st Pacific Islands Forum, island nations are also gearing up for the next round of global climate negotiations, to be held in November in Egypt. This week’s Forum summit in Fiji

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Oceans emergency declared

Updates from the UN Oceans conference The United Nations Secretary General has declared an “ocean emergency” at the 2022 UN Oceans Conference co-hosted by Portugal and Kenya in Lisbon. Addressing delegates attending

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Vanuatu, Niue borders reopen this week

After closing its international borders to everyone except citizens and residents two years ago following the COVID-19 pandemic, Vanuatu is reopening and reconnecting with the world starting this Friday. Vanuatu had not

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