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Vanuatu is projecting real gross domestic product growth of 3.9% in 2026, rising to 4% annually from 2027 to 2030, as the government increases spending on infrastructure, education, health and agriculture under its 2026 national budget.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Johnny Koanapo presented the budget statement on Nov. 6, outlining a spending plan of VT64.1 billion against estimated revenue of VT46.8 billion.
The budget is intended to support economic recovery, strengthen public services and improve living conditions across the country as Vanuatu prepares for its 50th independen
Solomon Islands has begun preparations to implement the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), following its readmission to the global transparency programme in September 2026.
Representatives of the United Kingdom, EITI, the Solomon Islands government, mining companies and civil society met at Heritage Park in Honiara on Nov. 3 to discuss implementation priorities and the country's obligations under the EITI Standard.
The workshop focused on establishing a common understanding of the initiative's requirements and the role of the Multi-Stakeholder Group, which will ove
Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd has begun a comprehensive review of the Kumul Tower project following concerns over its procurement governance, management arrangements and expenditure exceeding US$120 million (about K500 million).
KPHL Board Chairman Ambassador Isaac Lupari and Acting Managing Director Luke Liria recently inspected the project site, where China State Construction Engineering Company has completed significant excavation, ground stabilisation, piling and foundation works.
However, the board said the inspection raised concerns about the governance of procurement and the project
The Bahomea and Malango Community Benefit Sharing Trust Fund has begun developing a five-year strategic plan to guide the distribution of benefits from the Tina River Hydropower Development Project to communities in Central Guadalcanal.
The fund’s Board of Trustees and Fund Management Office held a two-day strategic planning workshop on October 15–16 at Parangiju Mountain Lodge in Central Guadalcanal, laying the groundwork for the 2027–2031 plan.
Facilitated by consultant Lilly Lomulo, the workshop brought together trustees, fund management staff and institutional partners
Papua New Guinea is seeking $50 million in investment by 2035 to develop its aquaculture industry and strengthen fisheries infrastructure, as the government pushes for greater regional cooperation to expand sustainable fishing and processing activities.
Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Jelta Wong outlined the investment target during the Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Solutions Forum in Port Vila, Vanuatu, held from November 3 to 6.
The proposed investment will support essential infrastructure, including hatcheries, feed mills, cold storage and processing facilities, un
Three new reservoirs and more than 10 kilometres of transmission pipelines have been commissioned in Honiara, expanding the capital's water storage capacity and strengthening supply for a growing urban population.
The facilities, commissioned on Nov. 3, were delivered under the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project, a joint investment supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank, European Union, Global Environment Facility and Solomon Islands government.
The three reservoirs, located at Titinge, Tasahe and Panatina, add more than 8.5 million litres of storage capa
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has championed the revival of the country’s “Hapi Isles” identity as part of efforts to strengthen its tourism profile and ensure the industry delivers greater benefits to local communities.
Speaking at a welcome reception for the Council of Tourism Ministers Meeting in Honiara, Wale said the identity reflects the country’s welcoming people, cultural diversity and natural attractions.
He announced that the Hapi Isles brand would be soft-launched at the close of the meeting and called on regional partners to help promote Solo
Since being signed in October 2025, the ‘U.S.-Australia Framework for Securing Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths’ Framework has gained momentum against the backdrop of intensifying global competition for strategic resources. The initiative reflects a broader structural shift: critical minerals are no longer simply commodities, but are increasingly becoming instruments of economic security, industrial policy and geopolitical leverage.

At its core, the Framework seeks to integrate two resource-rich, politically aligned jurisd
Civil society representatives from across the Pacific have gathered in Tuvalu to develop a stronger collective voice on climate change ahead of Pre-COP31 and the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31).

The Pacific Civil Society Dialogue on Climate Change, held in Funafuti, brings together communities, youth, women, faith-based organizations, traditional leaders and civil society networks to consolidate regional priorities and ensure their perspectives inform the Pacific's climate agenda.

Opening the dialogue, Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Penital
NiuPay Limited, the Papua New Guinean technology company that designs, builds and operates mission-critical digital platforms for government and enterprise, has appointed Vontis Paska as general manager for the Northern Region, effective November 2, 2026.
Paska will lead NiuPay’s permanent presence in Lae, which the company announced on September 28 at a Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) business breakfast. He will serve as NiuPay’s main point of contact for Lae City Authority (LCA), ServiceLink users and organizations across Morobe Province and the wider Northern Region