Niue’s twice weekly flights have resumed
The twice weekly flights to Niue resumed last week on Monday, 01 April. Niue Tourism Advisor, Hayden Porter says they double their capacity numbers with the increased flights and is the highest they have seen in the
Fiji Business Briefs: Fuel prices up, Vanua Levu road project, Movers and Shakers
Revised fuel and LPG prices for April 2024 The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) has released new regulated prices for various fuel products effective from 1 April 2024. Unleaded fuel has gone up by nine
Small Singapore company to monopolise all gold trading in PNG, says industry
The proposed National Gold Corporation Bill 2022 will effectively create a Gold Monopoly which will be disastrous for PNG’s mining sector and the economy of Papua New Guinea. That’s the stern implications
Palau scrambles after cyberattack cripples financial systems
Palau’s financial management system was crippled last week after a cyberattack, forcing the Ministry of Finance to temporarily revert to manual payroll processing. This marked the first major cyberattack and the
Fiji Business Briefs: RBF on Fiji’s outlook, Aviation school to expand
RBF says inflation, job vacancies up The Reserve Bank of Fiji says indications are Fiji’s economy will grow in 2024. In a recent statement, RBF Governor, Ariff Ali said while consumption spending was positive—due to
Is the Pacific moving fast enough on Kava protection?
Pacific Island nations are considering implementing Geographical Indication (GI) protections for kava to safeguard its reputation and uniqueness. This move aims to capitalise on the growing global demand for kava and
Fiji Business Briefs: Chequing-out, Pacific Green growth, Movers and Shakers
Bank cheques phase out While the phasing out of cheques by Fiji’s banks is inevitable, indications from the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) are that there is still flexibility around the timeline. RBF Governor Arrif Ali
Internet cost cheap says Samoa regulator
Samoa Telecommunication regulator, Lematua Gisa Purcell has maintained that the current internet price is cheaper compared to previous years and the network cost will drop again before the end of the year. Lematua
Fiji Business Briefs: McDonald’s expansion, hotel room demand, reporting season
McDonald’s Fiji expands back-end operations Vuvale Restaurants (Fiji) Ltd, the parent company of McDonald’s Fiji, has announced a $25 million investment of a new retail and supermarket complex
PNG Census to begin in June: PM Marape
A nationwide census with the slogan “Be Counted” will begin in June, says Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape. With the country approaching its 50th Independence anniversary next year, the Government plans
Nine percent interest for PNG National Superannuation Fund members
Papua New Guinea’s National Superannuation Fund (Nasfund) Trustee Board has approved a nine percent increase on members crediting rate for the financial year of 2023. This will result in a distribution of more
Fiji Business Briefs: Energy price hike rejected, SPX results, BSP Life payout
FCCC rejects energy price hike The Fijian Competition & Consumer Commission (FCCC) has rejected Energy Fiji Limited’s (EFL) bid to increase electricity prices. EFL wanted the adoption of both fixed and variable
RMI President questions US commitment on COFA funding
Republic of Marshall Islands President, Hilda Heine, has questioned whether the Marshalls have reached a crossroads in its relationship with the United States. As Marshallese gathered to commemorate Nuclear Victims
Prioritise cyber risk management: ANZ
A cybersecurity expert with the ANZ bank says many organisations fail to keep their systems up to date, and as a result, they expose themselves and their customers to cyberattacks. Eli Hirschauge, ANZ’s Head of
PNG fuel supplier Puma granted relief from court order
Puma Energy would now be able to make its own decision on fuel supply to the national airliner, Air Niugini. This follows a National Court order by Justice John Carey at the Waigani National Court Tuesday which releases
Pacific Islands nations should consider debt-for-nature deals to lower borrowing costs, IMF says
Pacific Islands nations most at risk from rising seas should consider novel debt-for-nature deals as high debt levels across the region make traditional loans unsustainable, a senior International Monetary Fund official
Puma stops fuel supply in PNG, PM searches Australia for fuel
Puma stops fuel supply in PNG PNG’s fuel dilemma is far from over. Service stations are shutting down while Jet A1 that keeps planes flying might finish today, says the country’s major fuel supplier Puma Energy
FSM launches first Citizens Budget
A first-of-its-kind Citizens Budget has been launched in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). FSM’s Department of Finance and Administration (DOFA) in a statement today said the National Government Fiscal
Nauru Airlines upgrades its fleet
Nauru Airlines has upgraded its fleet with a new 189-seat passenger aircraft. The blessing of the aircraft took place last week at the airline’s hangar in Brisbane, conducted by Rev David Deluckner, who is also a
ANZ anticipates Fiji population growth as overseas migration slows
Fiji is poised to witness an increase in labour force expansion and economic activity, starting in 2025, due to changes in trends in international migration, says the ANZ Bank. A new report from ANZ Research projects a
Cook Islands Parliament makes changes to seabed mining law
The Cook Islands has made amendments to its Seabed Minerals Act this week, including replacing the term “mining” with “minerals harvesting … to reflect the actual activity that takes
Continue aviation fuel supply, PNG court tells fuel supplier Puma Energy
Papua New Guinea National Court has ordered Puma Energy to continue supplying aviation fuel to Air Niugini until 27 February as per their agreement, describing the fuel supply issue as of national importance. Judge
Solomon Islands caretaker PM Sogavare says government needs to secure more loans
Solomon Islands needs to secure more loans to fully deliver projects in the National Infrastructure Priority Pipeline 2023 (NIPP 2023), caretaker Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare stated. In his keynote address at the