Deep Sea Mining pilot gets go ahead
Piloting of deep sea mining by the Metals Company has been given the green light by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). This follows the ISA’s review of an environmental impact statement (EIS) and environmental
Look north to PNG, Fiji urged
The Papua New Guinea economy is expected to “double in size in the next 10 years” says ANZ Pacific Economist, Dr Kishti Sen. And that is a huge opportunity for Fiji and other Pacific Island economies. While Dr Sen
Fiji 2022 Elections: crucial for the Pacific
Fiji soon goes to the polls for the 2022 General Elections. There are two major candidates vying for Prime Ministership, both former coup leaders. Sitiveni Rabuka (Peoples’ Alliance Party) who did the country’s
Pacific Regionalism and Astronomy
The ‘2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent’ was launched at the 51st Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting held in Suva on 11-14 July 2022. At the welcoming ceremony, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Chair, PM
Whispers
Meth concerns downplayed Fiji Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho denies Fiji’s meth problem is getting out of control. The Commissioner was responding to criticisms by opposition MP, Pio Tikoduadua,
Ngaire Fuata: from chart topping singer to filmmaker
“When I started doing music here in New Zealand 32 years ago, it was a pretty lonely place for a young Pacific Island woman,” says Pacific creative powerhouse, Ngaire Fuata. But the New Zealander persevered and has
Briefs
American Samoa American Samoa has received two federal grants for its criminal justice system. The Byrne Grant – totalling US$467,587 – is to aid court efforts and crime prevention programs within the territory. The
Movers and Shakers
Sen. Aren B. Palik has been sworn in as the Federated States of Micronesia's vice president, succeeding Yosiwo George who passed away last month. Palik was the president of the Pacific Islands Development Bank, a
‘Everyone’s business’ – Vanuatu reopens to tourists
Vanuatu reopened to tourists on July 1, but there is still some work to do to reopen properties that have been shuttered for two years and fill frontline tourism positions. Virgin Australia says it will resume its
Whispers
Kiribati’s constitutional crisis Kiribati’s constitutional crisis over the status of high court judge David Lambourne continues. This month, the court of appeal ruled that government orders to deport Lambourne
A note from the editor
This month, Islands Business was able to attend the Forum Economic Ministers meeting in Vanuatu. You’ll see coverage of some of the big issues discussed at FEMM—climate and resilience financing and supply chain
Climate finance crunch
The Pacific Islands Forum is taking another look at its ambitions to take control of resilience funding following the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Vanuatu this month. The hybrid meeting saw attending delegates
Porgera, prices and access
The government of Papua New Guinea’s newly re-elected Prime Minister, James Marape will be focused on building investor confidence and getting Porgera reopened, as it begins its new term. In his first speech to
Opinion: Putting the Case Forward for Pacific Integration
Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders identified and discussed the various elements that could constitute the 2050 Strategy at their annual meeting in Funafuti, Tuvalu in August 2019. They then tasked the Pacific Islands
AI-Based ChatBot to Streamline FDB Customer Service
Fijian tech firm ITGalax will be working closely with the Fiji Development Bank (FDB) to bring to life its winning Artificial Intelligence-based chatbot solution concept. ITGalax was one of five winners in the
Supply chain chaos and cooperation
Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers and officials have been advised to consider reviewing export taxes and tax credits to stimulate trade in the region. A review commissioned by the Forum says all sectors,
Aging ports infrastructure under scrutiny
The shared challenge of aging ports infrastructure will be one of the key issues discussed at the upcoming Association of Pacific Ports annual conference in Saipan next month. Ports authorities recognise it is time to
Opening the window
Vanuatu is leading the region in the use of an Electronic Single Window System to ensure trade documentation is organised in a more efficient and transparent way. The manager for the Electronic Single Window Project,
New parametric insurance products launched
In early August, Salaseini Koroi, a schoolteacher turned cane farmer, sent two tonnes of harvested cane to Lautoka mill. It was the culmination of a year’s hard work in the fields of Lautoka, in Fiji’s western
Photo exhibit challenges anti-Micronesian attitudes in Hawaii
A photography exhibit by veteran Pacific journalist Floyd K. Takeuchi opens in Honolulu on September 1 with the explicit purpose of challenging local negative stereotypes about the state’s small but highly visible
Milk goats and soaps
From her garage-turned-lab, entrepreneur Beatrice Nast is creating Fiji’s first soap made from pure goat milk. The current president of the Society of Fiji Travel Associates, Nast has worn many hats during her tourism
Movers and Shakers
NASFUND PNG’s longest serving CEO Ian Tarutia has announced his retirement in March 2023. For almost 35 years, Tarutia has served the fund and its predecessor, the National Provident Fund. Fiji-born Lisa Tai has
