Opinion: Australia should listen to PNG not the IMF
In late 2021, following the first phase of a review of the 2000 Central Banking Act (CBA) by an independent advisory group, the Papua New Guinea parliament unanimously amended the CBA. Among other things, the amendments
Tonga did not sign the Samoa Agreement
Tonga did not sign the Samoa Agreement, that took place in Samoa last week. Tonga’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu, said that there is a requirement in order to formalise Tonga’s
Raise PNG wage rate, says CPL founder
A prominent businessman has urged the PNG Government to increase the minimum wage to enable grassroots people to survive in these tough economic times. City Pharmacy Ltd Group founder, Sir Mahesh Patel, said the base
Opinion: New data to inform big decisions around Pacific labour mobility
There has been much discussion about how the rapidly expanding labour mobility programmes in Australia and New Zealand have affected lives in the Pacific. Many have pointed to the significant economic benefits to
Opinion: NZ wants more seasonal workers – but Pacific nations no longer want to be the ‘outposts’ that ‘grow’ them
The three party leaders currently negotiating to form New Zealand’s next government might have their differences, but they seem to agree on one thing: the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme needs to expand. New
27 Fiji greenpreneurs graduate, receive 350k in grants
Twenty-seven micro, small and medium enterprises in Fiji have been awarded US$350,000 in grants to further develop their businesses sustainably. They are part of the Pacific Greenpreneurs Incubator and Accelerator
French Polynesia tourism arrivals back to pre-Covid levels
French Polynesia’s tourism arrivals have returned to pre-Covid levels, with a specifically high spending by international visitors, latest statistics revealed. Figures for the whole year 2022 show the number of
Cook Islands PM happy with Pacific Islands Forum meeting success
Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown is happy with the outcome of the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting. “I am very happy with our outcomes as leaders. Of course, there are a number of
Opinion: A long-term fund to lift the Porgera mining curse
The last three decades of gold mining in Porgera (1989-2019) have been wasted, with little to show in terms of the socio-economic conditions of the landowners and people of Porgera-Paiela district in Enga Province,
Samoa no longer in ‘debt distress’: Minister
Samoa has been taken off the list of “debt distress” nations and is now eligible to apply for loans from the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank. The Minister of Finance, Lautimuia Uelese
Salwai prioritises revenue and instability curse
Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas is Vanuatu’s third prime minister to be elected in less than a year. Salwai is no stranger to the driver’s seat. His last reign was from 2016 to 2020 when he managed to successfully steer
China’s declining aid to Pacific islands increasingly goes to allies, think tank reports
China’s declining aid to the South Pacific is increasingly targeted toward its political allies in the region as appetite there for Chinese credit declines and competition grows with the U.S. for influence, an
New Australian Pacific visa scheme gets green light
Thousands of Pacific islanders will be offered a path to Australian life after a government effort to boost regional employment and address shortages was given the green light. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles secured
Samoa Minister says no to ‘marijuana export’
Samoan Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries is opposed to any moves to promote the medicinal use of marijuana, saying it will not happen any time. The views of La’aulialemalietoa Polataivao Schmidt were sought on
China’s Xi supports stronger international role for Papua New Guinea
China’s President Xi Jinping said the country supports Papua New Guinea in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and is willing to strengthen ties. Xi made the comments in a meeting with
Opinion: The Pacific’s carbon credit market – promise and challenge
The global thrust towards sustainability is irrefutable. From the vantage point of Pacific Island Countries (PICs), we’re poised at the forefront of a market with vast potential: the carbon credit market. As the
Chinese premier holds talks with PNG PM Marape
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday held talks with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, who is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and pay an official visit to
Joint feasibility study set for a possible free trade agreement between PNG and China
A joint feasibility study is set to begin next week for a possible free trade agreement between Papua New Guinea and China. According to The National, International Trade and Investment Richard Maru said the cost of the
Commonwealth Finance Ministers meet in Marrakesh to tackle overlapping global crises
Commonwealth Finance Ministers met this week in Marrakesh, Morocco to discuss the reform of the global financial architecture, with particular attention to two pivotal areas, scaling up development finance and
World Bank targets dirty subsidies to fund climate action
The World Bank is seeking to persuade governments to take money away from subsidies for fossil fuels and invest it in good causes like climate change. Governments around the world currently spend over half a trillion
De-banking having a ‘severe impact’ on Pacific Islanders
The region’s economic ministers say the expiry of correspondent banking relationships (CBR) is having a severe impact on the lives of Pacific Islanders, including seasonal workers, micro, small, and medium
COVID19 a wake-up call for Pacific countries to strengthen social security systems
The COVID19 crisis was a wake-up call for many Pacific Island Countries to enhance their social security systems. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), its 14 Pacific Developing Member Countries (PMDCs) were
Labour mobility a ‘double-edged word’: Samoa Chamber of Commerce President Seulupe
Samoa’s private sector members are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and are unable to take on the added expense of a minimum wage increase while navigating multiple challenges. That is the view of