Puma scales down operations, a fuel crisis is imminent in PNG
A fuel crisis is imminent with fuel and liquid gas supplier Puma Energy reducing its Papua New Guinea operation. Effective last Thursday, Puma Energy started to issue termination of contract notices to customers. Early
Black Wednesday: PNG’s Tinder Box explodes
Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, is recovering from looting and burning of businesses in its National Capital District (NCD) after members of the PNG Police Force went on strike last month. “Black
Opinion: The politics of riots in Melanesia
The riots that erupted in the Papua New Guinea capital, Port Moresby, on January 10 have left a trail of destruction likely to have severe political ramifications. Such disturbances in Melanesia’s major cities are not
Samoa dealing with ‘taro trouble’
Taro, a Samoan staple food, has been on the decline for the last few years and as a result the prices have soared and supply to the local markets has dropped. This has also seen many Samoans consume less of the healthy
Bank boss paints positive picture of PNG prospects
Kina Bank plans to invest over K30 million (US$7.9 million) this year to expand and refine its services with a focus on improving Papua New Guinea customer service, says Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer,
Country must never face repeat of civil unrest: PNG Business Council
Papua New Guinea Business Council President, Susil Nelson-Kongoi says there should not be a repeat of the 10 January civil unrest in Port Moresby and around the country. She told the Prime Minister’s back-to-business
Huge pay rise for Solomons politicians
Members of Parliament in Solomon Islands are due to receive a huge pay rise this year despite the nation’s precarious state of the economy and poor government service delivery. The pay increase was published in a
Fiji Business Briefs: Ministry name change, medicinal cannabis movement, Down to Earth deal
Name Change for Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Communications The Ministry responsible for small businesses will have a name change, to acknowledge micro enterprises and their role in
Fijian feminists launch new booklet in a call to action against poverty
Many tears and heartfelt stories were shared in Suva this week at the launch of a new booklet that highlights the socio-economic challenges that Fijian women, girls, and gender-diverse people face on a daily basis.
Fiji Business Briefs: Fiji Airways charter, Kontiki results
Fiji Airways defends Israel charter flight arrangements Fiji Airways says it has adhered to ethical business practices in the running of last year’s charter flights to Israel, but has admitted the charterer has missed
First MSME conference to be held in March
Innovation, creativity, and passion are some things to expect at Fiji’s first-ever conference for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in March this year. The theme of the conference is ‘Innovation
Calls for confidence vote in PM Marape after deadly riots in PNG
The political fallout from the deadly riots in Papua New Guinea continues, including calls for a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister, James Marape. Six MPs in Marape’s government have resigned following
PNG counts cost of riots as PM vows Cabinet reshuffle
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister has promised a cabinet reshuffle as businesses reckon with the cost of looting and rioting last week that inflicted heavy damage on the impoverished Pacific Island country’s
Death toll in PNG riots jumps to 22
The national death toll from violent riots in Papua New Guinea has climbed to 22, with the remains of six people found in Port Moresby yesterday. It’s understood the remains of the six people were found at two
The 2024 Pacific Forecast: A Turn for the Worse?
It’s 2024. Heading towards the halfway mark of this decade, the Pacific’s landscape is vastly different from four years ago, gripped in a steadily escalating set of challenges that may well define what the next
Westpac stays, so what’s next?
Westpac’s October announcement that it no longer planned to sell its remaining businesses in Papua New Guinea and Fiji, and its statement to the Australian Stock Exchange that it would increase investment in its
Fiji Business Briefs: ANZ survey, Drua sponsorship deal, Raine & Horne reopens
ANZ business survey: Turnover up, profitability down ANZ’s Fiji Business Survey for Q3 2023 has reported a positive upturn in turnover, with 42% of surveyed firms noting higher demand compared to the previous quarter.
ADB approves financing package to boost Solomon Islands’ education
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday said it has approved a financing package of US$45.7 million to boost senior secondary education and climate resilience in the Solomon Islands. “The Solomon Islands Senior
Nations can look elsewhere: Micronesia ex-leader urges U.S. to keep funds pledge
Months after exiting office, the former president of the Federated States of Micronesia has urged American lawmakers to keep their promise of approving funds for the Compact of Free Association (Cofa) pact, warning that
Porgera will fix FX, economy: PNG PM Marape
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape says once the Porgera gold mine comes on next year, it will help fix the country’s economy, especially the shortage of foreign exchange (forex). “Our people need the
New Caledonia passes first sugar tax bill
New Caledonia’s Congress has endorsed, for the first time, a new “flexible” tax on sugar products. The tax, in its initial stages, targets a first list of sugary food products. During the Congress
K27.3 billion budget tabled in PNG
The Papua New Guinea Government Tuesday handed down a whopping K27.3 billion (US$7.3 billion) 2024 Budget. Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey when presenting the Budget in Parliament described it as a responsible budget that is
CNMI tourism is in ‘desperate mode’
The Commonwealth of Northern Marianas (CNMI)‘s only industry, tourism, is in a “desperate mode,” according to the officers of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association of NMI. In a meeting with members