Weaving a path to sustainabiliy
As founder and creative director, Jessica Cassell’s ambition for Papua New Guinea’s Bilum & Bilas is for the venture to be well-known internationally as “a brand that has best practice around in working with
Business
Nurturing the seeds of Pacific MSMEs
Many new MSMEs have sprung up in the wake of COVID, but how can they remain
Fiji’s shot in the arm for MSMEs
The Fiji government’s latest budget included a F$200 million (US$94 million) financial package for MSMEs to be rolled out by the Reserve Bank of Fiji and commercial
Weaving a path to sustainability
As founder and creative director, Jessica Cassell’s ambition for Papua New Guinea’s Bilum & Bilas is for the venture to be well-known internationally as “a brand that has best practice around in working with
Australian Agricultural Visa: an end to the PLS?
Yesterday the Australian government announced that a new Australian Agriculture visa is to be created in addition to the Pacific Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme. The new announcement is significant,
Pacific islands: Economic outlook
COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on the region’s economies- but what is the Pacific islands’ economic outlook for the remainder 2021? ANZ economists Kishti Sen & Tom Kenny have this overview. The
Business Profile: Pivoting Post Fiji
What do you do when the global pandemic shuts borders and cuts international mail services; services that were previously your bread and butter? If you are Post Fiji, you diversify your offerings and look to digital
Oil Search and Santos merger reflects funding worries for new projects
The proposed merger of oil and gas companies Oil Search and Santos could put downward rating pressure on Santos, according to S&P Global Ratings, while other analysts predict more global mergers and acquisitions in
Business briefs: Digicel Pacific “an attractive asset”
The CEO of Australian telco Telstra says Digicel Pacific is an attractive asset. Andy Penn has told the Australian Financial Review that talks continue on potentially acquiring Digicel Pacific. “We would only do it
A slower recovery: Findings from the 15th Pacific Business Monitor
Just 8% of Pacific Islands businesses expect to return to pre-COVID revenue this year, with 55% expecting this recovery next year or even later according to the latest Pacific Trade Invest Pacific Business Monitor
Fiji real estate: A Buyer’s market
The pandemic has flattened Fiji’s real estate industry, with the Reserve Bank reporting that commercial bank lending to real estate had plummeted 31.3% (or F$24million) for the year ending March 2021. Similarly,
Fiji real estate: A buyer’s market
By Samantha Magick The pandemic has flattened Fiji’s real estate industry, with the Reserve Bank reporting that commercial bank lending to real estate had plummeted 31.3% (or F$24million) for the year ending March
Being a consultant in the Pacific
By Ken Katafono We are going through extraordinary times. It hasn’t been lost on me that we’ve been fortunate during this time to continue to work and have a demand for our skills and experience. So, I thought I’d
Oil Search rejects Santos bid
Oil Search rejected an unsolicited scrip-based takeover proposal from Santos Ltd that valued the Papua New Guinea-focused oil and gas producer at AUD$8.8 billion (US$6.5 billion), the two companies said on Tuesday.
Telstra in talks to buy Digicel Pacific with Australian government support
Telstra Corp Ltd (TLS.AX) says it was in discussions to buy the Pacific operations of telecom company Digicel Group, with the support of the Australian government, which will likely fund the majority of the deal amount.
BSP and FASU clash over alleged money laundering warning
The Bank South Pacific Financial Group Ltd (BSP) has always complied with its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) obligations in Papua New Guinea, says chairman Sir Kostas Constantinou. He made
BSP considers legal options over alleged money laundering warning
Bank South Pacific says it is considering its legal options after the Bank of Papua New Guinea formally cautioned it over what the central bank believes is “contrary conduct under the anti money laundering/counter
Coca Cola Fiji moves to buy Fiji brewer outright
Coca Cola Fiji Limited (CCEP Fiji) has moved to buy brewer Paradise Beverages Fiji outright. This follows CCEP Fiji’s acquisition of 57,323 (equivalent to 0.55%) ordinary shares in PBF from Platinum Insurance
“We have been lagging behind quite poorly”
In 2020 as shops and markets all over the world were forced to close due to the coronavirus, people shopped from home, with e-commerce seeing exponential growth in many markets. And the trend will continue. Online
E-Commerce trailblazer: Banz Kofi
Banz Kofi’s online business was transformed when owner Patrick Killoran negotiated a significant reduction in freight rates. Last year during COVID, while regular sales out of the company’s Mount Hagen coffee
Fast-tracking PICTA
The Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA), having acquired ratification by signatory Pacific Island Countries (PICs), came into force in 2003. However, some 18 years later, the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is
Probe into Pacific Maritime Industrial Zone project financing
Papua New Guinea Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey has announced a new study aimed at resuming work on the long-delayed Pacific Maritime Industrial Zone project in Madang. PMIZ has been a white elephant sitting on the fringes
