Vanuatu eyes growth of DOT VU
VANUATU’S telecom regulator has welcomed the recent move by the ICAAN (Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers) to reassign to it the country’s country-code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) name DOT VU (.vu).
Business Intelligence
Samoa Airways shelves maiden flight
THE worldwide grounding of Boeing’s 737 MAX 8 aircrafts has prompted the Government of Samoa to defer the commissioning of its new Boeing 737 MAX 9, which was to have taken place next month (April 2019). Recent
Scanning the story of a fish
Imagine typing a code from a can of tuna into your phone as you stand in a supermarket aisle to find out where the fish in the can was caught, and the name of the ship which landed it. This is the vision of
Fiji pearl producer goes for blue pledge
Derailed by the huge devastation wrought by super-cyclone Winston in 2016. Fiji’s exclusive J. Hunter Pearls is back on the path of restoring what it lost and at the same time doubled up on its efforts in ocean
FNPF buys out GPH partners
Unconfirmed reports have emerged that the Grand Pacific Hotel (GPH) in Fiji is now fully owned by the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF). The historic building, local landmark and well known icon of South Pacific
Only 4 Observers are missing at sea
PORT Moresby, Papua New Guinea – Only four Observers have been reported missing in foreign fishing vessels and not 18 says the country’s fisheries and marine resources minister, Patrick Basa. He made the
Bougainville says no
The Bougainville Autonomous Government has rejected the Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) Panguna mining license bid following divisions among landowners. According to BCL company secretary Mark Hitchcock, the
Fiji airport disruptions
Nadi, Fiji – Ground-handling of aircraft at Fiji’s largest airport Nadi were disrupted a week before Christmas (and disruptions continued as we went to press) following a dispute between workers and the
SPC Fiji base to be gifted with US$28m Pacific Village
By the first quarter of 2015, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) hopes the construction of its new base in Fiji would have started. Green light for this has been granted by the host government, and in
Roads, water, education clear winners in Fiji’s US$1.7b Budget
Fiji’s government of Frank Bainimarama is continuing with its expansionary economic policy in the $3.3 billion (US$1.69 billion) budget for 2015 it handed down in Fiji’s Parliament on November 21st. Its
Tonga floats Development Bank for the Pacific
Setting up a regional development bank gained the support of the Association of Development Financing Institutions of the Pacific meeting in Nuku’alofa last month. Tonga’s Acting Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu
Fuel company focuses on gas
The National Petroleum Company of Papua New Guinea (NPCP), the third largest shareholder of the world class Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas project (PNG LNG) is estimated to be valued at US$8 billion to US$9
Regional food and beverage exhibition creates growth possibilities for growers and manufacturers
Fine Food Australia is the region’s biggest annual food and beverage trade show. Featuring hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of visitors and buyers from around the world, potentially millions of dollars worth
Coca Cola suffers but PNG, Fiji shine
Coca Cola Amatil reported a 15 per cent decline in profits this year to A$182 million (US$158m)but the figure could have been worse if its outlets in Fiji and Papua New Guinea had not performed exceptionally. Its
FAD with sonar poses “game-changer” in tuna fishery
The introduction of sonar capable satellite buoys that are attached to FADs (Fish Aggregating Device) is poised to be a “game changer” in the Pacific’s lucrative skipjack tuna fishery with indications
Skydive Fiji acquires Sunflower Aviation
SkyDive Fiji has purchased Sunflower Aviation for an undisclosed amount after American Samoan airliner Inter Island Airways failed to complete the acquisition last year. The new owners are husband and wife duo, Susan
Weaker dollar keeping Australians home
Currency fluctuations have heavily deterred Australians from taking overseas holidays over Christmas in the past but this time around travel tour companies do not anticipate a slowdown in visitors to the Pacific islands
Marshalls will showcase power plant energy savings
W hen over a hundred Pacific island power utility officials meet for their annual conference in Majuro next year, they will see new heat recovery generators in action at the capital city’s power plant. Majuro is
Airport plans ended, back to square one
A RARE unanimous vote by Vanuatu’s MPs to end plans for a new controversial V$350 million (US$3.66m) international airport have refocused attention on the parlous state of Bauerfield International Airport. Plans
Tuna access in doubt after talks fail to seal fisheries deal
Fishing for 40 United States-flagged purse seiners is in jeopardy for 2015 after negotiations between the US and Pacific nations last month failed to seal an access treaty. Although agreement was reached two years ago
Global mobile phone giant enters PNG, Solomons partnership
Bmobile Vodafone opened for business in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on July 16, days after Vodafone announced its expansion to PNG and the Solomon Islands in a non-equity arrangement with local partners. Group
Mobile companies reinforce presence in Fiji
Leading mobile phone companies announced major developments recently with Vodafone Fiji now fully Fijian owned while its rival Digicel rolled out a massive AU$40.4 million expansion of its Fiji operations. Digicel
Fiji engages Solomon Islands in flight fight
FliFlights between Fiji and Solomon Islands by the two countries’ national airlines have remained suspended due to disputes over flight times. Solomon Island authorities say Fiji started the dispute when it banned