Inflation, interest rates cloud post-pandemic Pacific growth: World Bank

The resumption of tourism, higher public investment and construction have fuelled the Pacific region’s economic recovery from COVID-19 but a combination of persistently high imported inflation and interest rate hikes

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What happened to me must never happen again: Forum SG Puna

In a frank admission on the circumstances which forced his exit from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the Secretary General of the Forum Henry Puna has told a closed function hosted in Samoa that what took place

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Building a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Pacific Islands

Obed Timakata, from Makatea Village in Emae Island, Vanuatu, has dedicated his life to preserving the ocean and the life it sustains. As the Director of Organic Fish + Farm Mariculture Enterprise, Obed has been

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Pacific regionalism: To Hell with Drowning

Julian Aguon is from Guam and is a human rights lawyer, and founder of Blue Ocean Law, a progressive firm that works at the intersection of indigenous rights and environmental justice. He is also a writer. He wrote his

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World Press Freedom Day: Advancing Pacific anti-corruption efforts through Teieniwa Vision

Being an anti-corruption partner is a long-time commitment, just like the Teieniwa Vision, says Kiribati investigative journalist Rimon Rimon.  In February 2020, the inaugural Pacific Leaders Regional Anti-Corruption

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EU highlights commitment to improving regional trade at Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry

Nadi, Fiji The EU SAFE Pacific (Safe Agricultural Trade and Facilitation through Economic Integration) project played an integral role in the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry (PWAF) held from 6 – 10 March in

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South Pacific eyes China trade deal

China and a group of South Pacific island countries could start talks this year toward their first formal trade agreement, according to an official from a regional network of nations.  But while such talks could

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Forum reunited, now to work

The next Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Baron Waqa says, “The Forum is still developing in its form, regionalism and all these plans to strengthen and unite members and I think what’s going on at

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Can Washington fund its Pacific pledges?

“We have not been sufficiently engaged at a critical time in the Pacific islands. Not only do the Pacific islands face existential threats like climate change and economic dislocation, but clearly they’re being

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Kiribati returns to Forum, Nauru’s Waqa next Secretary General

Pacific leaders prayed together, ate together and by the end of a long retreat today, saw Kiribati’s full return to the Pacific Islands Forum and a much larger role for its Micronesian members. Former Nauru President

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Australia scales up security cooperation with Kiribati

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong has announced Australia will rapidly scale up security and development cooperation with the sprawling Pacific Island nation of Kiribati as the federal government tries to ensure

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New Zealand Deputy PM to join Pacific leaders’ special retreat

New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs Carmel Sepuloni will travel to Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum Special Leaders’ retreat this week. It will be her first opportunity in

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