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Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands have reaffirmed their commitment to deeper economic cooperation, with business groups from both countries describing the inaugural PNG–Solomon Islands Investment Conference as the starting point for a more structured commercial partnership. The Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands Business Council (PNGSIBC) and Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) welcomed the commitment of Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale, as well as the participation of government leaders and public officials from both countries. The conference, themed “From Opportunity to Investment – Building the PNG-Solomon Islands Growth Corridor”, was the first investment conference between the two Melanesian nations. It was designed to support the implementation of the PNG-Solomon Islands Economic Framework Agreement on Development and Economic Cooperation 2026-2030, signed in June. The event brought together government representatives, private-sector executives, investors, financial institutions, development partners and business leaders from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and the wider region to explore opportunities for increased trade, investment and economic cooperation. According to PNGSIBC and SICCI, the strong participation demonstrated growing interest in business-to-business and business-to-government engagement, supported by strategic and sustainable policy frameworks from both governments. Discussions focused on potential investment and commercial opportunities across infrastructure, mining, telecommunications and digital services, financial services, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, energy, resources and professional services. Youth and micro, small and medium-sized enterprise development were also highlighted. The organisations said the two countries' geographical proximity, shared Melanesian heritage, longstanding people-to-people links and complementary economic opportunities provide a strong foundation for closer commercial relations. Central Bank of Solomon Islands Governor Dr Luke Forau was among the speakers at the conference. Focus shifts from opportunities to implementation PNGSIBC and SICCI said they would build on the conference's momentum by working with governments, development partners and the private sector to advance a number of priorities. These include increasing bilateral trade and investment, facilitating business and investor connections, supporting joint ventures and partnerships, expanding opportunities for MSMEs and local businesses, and addressing barriers affecting the movement of businesspeople, skills, goods and investment. The two business organisations will also advocate for greater private-sector participation in major development and infrastructure projects and establish a continuing platform for dialogue between governments, investors and businesses. They said practical measures to make it easier to conduct business between Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands would remain a priority. “The Investment Conference should therefore be regarded not simply as an event, but as the beginning of a stronger and more structured economic partnership between the private sectors of our two countries,” PNGSIBC and SICCI said. A work plan is being developed to capture the conference's key outcomes and practical recommendations arising from the discussions. A report card from the Joint Organising Committee is also expected to be presented at future conferences to track progress. SICCI Vice-Chair Gordon Denty welcomed the support provided by both governments and the private sector for a sustainable development agenda, saying the inaugural conference had exceeded expectations. The two organisations said the next phase would focus on translating the relationships and opportunities identified at the conference into investment, businesses, jobs and sustainable economic benefits for people in both countries. The initiative represents an effort by Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands to move beyond diplomatic and political ties towards a more integrated economic relationship, with the proposed growth corridor providing a framework for long-term private-sector cooperation.

New high-grade drilling results from Lion One Metals’ Tuvatu gold mine in Fiji have highlighted geological similarities with Papua New Guinea’s Porgera mine, including mineralization associated with quartz, roscoelite and visible gold. Lion One reported an intersection of 4.2 meters grading 715.15 grams per tonne of gold from underground drilling at Tuvatu, including a 0.45-meter interval grading 6,571.20 grams per tonne. The company said the latter was the highest-grade assay result ever recorded at Tuvatu. Lion One reported the results from 3,337.30 meters of underground infill and grade-control drilling targeting the Ura and Murau lodes in Zone 2, below Level 1061. Fourteen of 18 completed drill holes intersected high-grade mineralization, with most of the results located within 15 to 75 meters of underground development and within 50 meters vertically. The company said the results could support the expansion of the mine plan, with the mineralized areas expected to be incorporated into the plan within the next 12 months. The Ura and Murau systems remain open at depth and along strike and are outside the current resource in several areas, presenting potential for further resource growth. Lion One said the headline 4.2-meter intersection was located about 55 meters from the Western Decline and intersected a shallow-dipping, roscoelite-bearing vein forming part of the Murau lode system. Roscoelite mineralization is associated with high-grade gold in alkaline gold deposits. Lion One cited the Vatukoula mine in Fiji and Porgera in PNG as examples of deposits with similar mineralization. At Porgera, the company said Stage II quartz-roscoelite-pyrite veins containing native gold are among the most significant mineralized structures in Zone VII of the Roamane fault zone. Zone VII produced 5.1 million ounces of gold at an average grade of 27 grams per tonne, according to Lion One. The company said individual veins in the zone locally contained gold grades ranging from hundreds to thousands of grams per tonne, similar to some of the results now being reported at Tuvatu. Five assays from the latest Tuvatu drilling returned more than 100 grams per tonne of gold, including the 6,571.20 grams per tonne result. Lion One President and Chief Executive Officer Ian Berzins said the latest drilling demonstrated the potential of the Ura and Murau systems. “We’re extremely pleased with the new results from our Zone 2 drilling,” Berzins said. “The interval of 715.15 g/t gold over 4.2 m is the highest grade over width in the history of Tuvatu, and it’s located in close proximity to our underground workings in an area of limited drilling.” The company said drilling is continuing at Tuvatu, with further work targeting resource expansion in Zone 2 and Zone 5. Lion One said its drilling results were reported as downhole intervals, with true widths not yet known because of variability in structural orientation. The company applies a 3 grams per tonne gold composite cutoff when reporting drill-hole intercepts. Tuvatu is a 100%-owned alkaline gold project operated by Lion One in Fiji. The project includes the Tuvatu deposit, underground mine, pilot plant and assay laboratory, as well as an exploration licence covering the Navilawa Caldera. Lion One said the company operates its own geochemical laboratory and diamond drilling fleet, with its laboratory accredited under the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard.

Fiji is exploring long-term cooperation with Malaysia to strengthen fuel security and shield the country from future global supply disruptions, including through strategic reserves and offshore fuel storage. Discussions between Fiji and Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 10 focused on strategic fuel reserves, emergency supply assurances, resilient supply chains and long-term energy infrastructure. The talks also considered the possibility of pre-positioned offshore fuel storage and strengthened maritime supply arrangements. Fiji’s Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister Sakiasi Ditoka held discussions with Malaysia’s Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Johari Abdul Ghani, highlighting Fiji’s vulnerability as a small island developing state that relies heavily on imported fuel. Johari outlined Malaysia’s work on strategic fuel security and stockpiling arrangements with international partners, giving Fiji an opportunity to assess how Malaysia’s experience and energy infrastructure could support its longer-term fuel security. “Energy security is a critical component of national security for small island developing states,” Ditoka said. “Malaysia’s advanced refining capabilities and world-class energy infrastructure make it a natural strategic partner. Exploring a formal and structured arrangement on fuel security and offshore stockpiling reflects our Coalition Government’s proactive commitment to protecting Fijian families and local businesses from international price shocks,” he said. The discussions also covered opportunities to expand trade, investment, technology transfer and industrial cooperation, including increased Malaysian investment in Fiji and improved market access for Fijian products. The reopening of Fiji’s High Commission in Kuala Lumpur is expected to provide a platform for further bilateral cooperation, with a focus on economic partnership, energy security and practical outcomes for both countries. For Fiji, the discussions come as the government seeks to strengthen the resilience of its fuel supply system against disruptions in international markets and maritime supply chains.

The Chinese Embassy in Solomon Islands and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology have signed a cooperation agreement for the second phase of a mini solar power project aimed at expanding access to clean and reliable energy in the country. Chinese Ambassador Cai Weiming and Minister for Environment Ghemu signed the agreement on Aug. 24. Minister for Women Maneniaru, Minister for Forestry Tagini and representatives from constituencies participating in the project also attended the signing ceremony. The cooperation follows an initiative announced by China at the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Conference in 2025 to implement a series of “Small yet Smart” livelihood projects in Pacific island countries. Cai said the first phase of the mini solar power program received positive feedback and expressed confidence that the second phase would further support Solomon Islands in turning its renewable energy resources into tangible improvements in people’s livelihoods. The project is also expected to strengthen energy self-reliance and promote social inclusion as Solomon Islands pursues sustainable development, according to the ambassador. Ghemu expressed appreciation to the Chinese government and people for their continued support and partnership with Solomon Islands. He said the cooperation would help improve access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy while strengthening energy security, supporting environmental protection and improving the quality of life for Solomon Islanders. Ghemu also highlighted the importance of continued cooperation between the two countries in addressing development challenges. “Through strong partnerships, knowledge sharing, and mutual support between our two countries, SI could overcome challenges and build a more resilient future,” he said. The second phase of the mini solar power project forms part of broader cooperation between China and Solomon Islands in clean energy and community development, with the initiative expected to contribute to greater energy access and resilience in participating communities.

Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways is strengthening its capacity to develop, assess and coordinate agricultural investment proposals through a four-day training program on economic and financial analysis under the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Hand-in-Hand Initiative. The training, which opened at the JICA Training Room at the Koronivia Agriculture Research Station, brings together participants from Fiji and Tonga and is supported by the FAO Investment Centre, the FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific and the FAO Country Office. Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Waterways Dr Andrew Tukana said the program forms part of broader efforts to modernize and institutionalize agricultural investment planning in Fiji. “Our longer-term objective is to modernise and institutionalise the Ministry’s investment-planning process,” Tukana said. He said the ministry intends to develop a standard investment-planning manual or operating procedure to guide the preparation and review of major agricultural investment proposals. According to Tukana, the proposed system would establish minimum requirements for evidence, analysis, consultation, quality assurance and approvals, helping ensure that investment proposals meet consistent standards regardless of who prepares them. The training comes as Fiji, Tonga and other Pacific nations prepare for the FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in Rome in October, where Fiji is expected to present investment opportunities in breadfruit, pineapple, coconut and cocoa. While describing the Rome forum as an important milestone, Tukana said Fiji’s focus must extend beyond the event and toward establishing a sustainable framework for agricultural investment planning. “The quality of an investment plan should not depend only on one officer, one consultant or one short-term project. It should become part of how the Ministry operates – connecting technical design, economic and financial analysis, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and accountability,” he said. The training will equip participants with practical tools to assess the economic and financial viability of agricultural investments, including evaluating whether projects are realistic, beneficial to farmers and businesses, capable of generating broader economic value and resilient to changes in market conditions. Tukana urged participants involved in preparing proposals for the Rome forum to critically review the analyses supporting proposed investments, including data sources, assumptions and information gaps. He emphasized that future agricultural investment submissions should be transparent, evidence-based and clearly identify the challenges being addressed, intended beneficiaries, resource requirements, expected value creation and risk-management measures. Addressing the challenge of limited agricultural data in many Pacific countries, Tukana said data gaps should not be used to conceal uncertainties or overstate assumptions. “Where evidence is limited, be transparent, consult technical experts and industry stakeholders, and clearly identify what needs further verification,” he said. Tukana also encouraged participants to share the knowledge gained during the training with colleagues, saying the long-term success of the initiative depends on building a broader pool of investment-analysis practitioners across Fiji and Tonga. “FAO provides catalytic technical assistance. It is our duty to learn, adapt what is useful to our context and produce impact from what we have learned,” he said. “Sustainability begins when this knowledge becomes part of our institutional practice rather than remaining with a project, consultant or individual officer.” He acknowledged FAO’s support and thanked technical facilitators Mr Kundan and Mr Raushan for sharing their expertise with participants. The training is expected to help develop stronger agricultural investment proposals that are commercially attractive, climate-responsive and aligned with the needs of farmers and rural communities. Officials said the initiative will also strengthen cooperation between Fiji and Tonga while supporting Pacific Small Island Developing States in improving how agricultural investment opportunities are developed and presented to potential investors. The training will continue over four days at the Koronivia Agriculture Research Station.

Fiji Development Bank staff are taking part in an international peer-to-peer learning exchange in Thailand aimed at strengthening approaches to agricultural, rural and climate finance. The exchange, running from Aug. 17 to 21, brings FDB staff together with the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) in Thailand. The programme is facilitated by the Agri-PDB Platform hosted by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in partnership with the Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA). The two development-focused financial institutions are exchanging experiences on supporting smallholder farmers, rural communities and climate-resilient agriculture. Key areas of the programme include climate-smart and agroecological agriculture, green and climate finance, blended finance and innovative financial instruments, agricultural and rural development financing, value-chain development and financial inclusion. The exchange also covers institutional knowledge and capacity building, giving participants an opportunity to examine practical approaches and implementation challenges. BAAC has more than five decades of experience in agricultural development finance and serves millions of farming households across Thailand. FDB is Fiji's national development financial institution and is a Green Climate Fund Direct Access Accredited Entity. The bank said the exchange would help strengthen its role in financing Fiji's transition towards a more resilient and sustainable economy. The programme is intended to go beyond a study visit by allowing the institutions to share experiences, identify effective approaches and bring lessons from the exchange back to Fiji. FDB said stronger knowledge and partnerships can contribute to better financing solutions for farmers and rural communities while supporting more resilient communities and a sustainable future for Fiji.

Fiji is moving to a broader tourism regulatory framework under the Tourism Act 2026, replacing legislation that has focused primarily on hotels and guest houses for more than five decades. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka told Parliament Tuesday that the government would implement the new framework through a managed transition, giving existing tourism businesses time and support to meet the new requirements. Businesses currently licensed under the Hotels and Guest Houses Act 1973 will have their licences and approvals recognised for up to 12 months after the new Act takes effect. This will allow operators to transition to the Tourism Enterprise Register. The new framework will cover a wider range of tourism businesses, including accommodation providers, tour operators, guides, dive operators and other tourism experiences. Businesses will be classified under a Tourism Classification System and, after meeting applicable legal and tourism requirements, issued a Recognition Certificate. The Tourism Enterprise Register will be publicly accessible. Gavoka said the reform was not intended to establish another licensing system, but to create a Recognition Pathway and Fiji Tourism Standards that would allow tourism businesses to progressively improve quality, sustainability and compliance. The classification system will include Community, Indigenous and Micro Tourism Enterprises as well as small, medium and large operators. The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation is developing regulations, administrative systems, registration procedures and industry guidance ahead of the Act's commencement. It will also conduct targeted awareness and industry engagement to explain registration requirements, classification, applicable standards and transition timelines. The government expects the new framework to provide clearer rules and nationally consistent standards while improving recognition of tourism operators that meet quality and sustainability requirements. For the government, the Tourism Enterprise Register is also expected to provide better information to support tourism policy, planning and industry development. Visitors are expected to benefit from greater confidence that tourism enterprises operate under recognised national standards. The commencement date for the Tourism Act 2026 will be appointed by the minister and will be determined based on the government's operational readiness.

  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 jurisdictions into a more resilient supply chain for minerals essential to defence systems, semiconductors, electric vehicles and clean energy infrastructure. It aims to do so by incentivising cross-border investment, accelerating permitting and facilitating preferential offtake arrangements. From a policy standpoint, the Framework aligns with parallel efforts such as the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and Australia’s Critical Minerals Strategy, each designed to reduce dependence on concentrated supply sources and to “friend-shore” production capacity. In practical terms, the Framework may unlock access to U.S. government-backed financing, including through the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. and the U.S. Department of Defense’s industrial base programmes, materially improving project bankability. For developers and investors, this signals opportunity. However, history — and recent arbitration trends in the mining sector — suggest a more complex reality: geopolitical stability at the macro level often masks heightened instability at the project level. Indeed, the acceleration of capital deployment, compressed development timelines and increasing politicisation of resource allocation are all well-established catalysts for disputes. Where disputes are likely to emerge 1. Native title and land access pressures A significant proportion of Australia’s critical mineral deposits are located on or near land subject to Indigenous rights and cultural heritage protections. The consultation and consent requirements under the Native Title Act 1993 are rigorous, and for good reason. However, where projects are fast-tracked under strategic imperatives, tensions inevitably arise. Recent experience across the mining sector shows that insufficient consultation or procedural shortcuts can trigger injunctions, heritage disputes and long-tail reputational harm. From a disputes perspective, these conflicts are increasingly hybrid, combining domestic administrative litigation with contractual and investor-State dimensions. 2. Joint venture and offtake fragility in volatile markets Critical minerals projects are capital-intensive and often structured through complex joint ventures and long-term offtake agreements. These arrangements are particularly vulnerable in environments of price volatility and shifting policy incentives. As seen in lithium and rare earth markets over the past five years, divergence between contracted prices and spot markets can become extreme. This creates fertile ground for disputes over: • price review and hardship clauses**;** • force majeure and “change in law” provisions**; and** • operator control and capital allocation decisions. Where projects are strategically significant, these disputes may escalate quickly, with broader political or regulatory implications. 3. Regulatory complexity and judicialisation of approvals Australia’s regulatory landscape, spanning federal regimes such as the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act and a patchwork of state-based mining and environmental laws, remains inherently complex. The addition of a “strategic project” designation does not eliminate this complexity; it may, in fact, intensify scrutiny. Third parties, including environmental NGOs and local communities, are increasingly sophisticated and willing to challenge approvals through judicial review mechanisms. This trend mirrors developments in other jurisdictions, where expedited approvals tied to energy transition goals have been successfully contested, delaying projects and increasing costs. 4. Export controls and sovereign reallocation risk The Framework itself is non-binding and operates within a fluid geopolitical environment. Export controls, domestic reservation policies or shifts in alliance priorities can materially alter the commercial assumptions underpinning a project. Investors structuring projects around anticipated U.S. demand or preferential access may face realignment risk if political priorities shift. This raises complex questions around: • stabilisation clauses**;** • sovereign interference**; and** • potential recourse under investment treaties. Recent ISDS jurisprudence demonstrates that resource nationalism, particularly in strategic sectors, continues to generate high-value claims, often centred on indirect expropriation and fair and equitable treatment standards. A structural observation: ESG as shield and sword An emerging dynamic worth highlighting is the dual role of ESG considerations. On the one hand, ESG compliance is increasingly positioned as a prerequisite for access to financing and market entry under frameworks like this one. On the other, ESG obligations are being invoked by States as a regulatory justification in disputes. This creates a paradox: ESG can operate both as a shield for States and as a sword for claimants, particularly where regulatory measures are inconsistent, disproportionate or applied retrospectively. Conclusion: Strategic alignment, legal complexity The U.S.-Australia Framework represents a sophisticated attempt to align industrial policy with geopolitical realities. It will likely accelerate investment and unlock significant value across the critical minerals supply chain. But for project developers, investors and financiers, the key takeaway is clear: the risk profile is evolving, not diminishing. Careful attention must be paid to: • contractual risk allocation (particularly around price, force majeure and regulatory change); • dispute resolution mechanisms (including the selection of the arbitral seat, governing law and enforcement strategy); and • the interaction between domestic regulatory frameworks and international investment protections. For project developers, investors, offtake counterparties and financiers active in Australia’s and/or the US’s critical minerals sectors, careful attention should be given to contractual terms in light of the rapidly changing regulatory environment which, in some respects concerning the Framework, remains undefined. In short, the next phase of the critical minerals boom will not only be defined by “big deals”, but also by increasingly complex, high-stakes disputes.   Ryan Cable, Partner (Brisbane), and Diora Ziyaeva, Partner and U.S. Region Co-Lead in Mining and Natural Resources (New York), are members of Dentons’ global International Arbitration and Investment Treaty Arbitration groups. They advise clients across the mining, energy and infrastructure sectors on project development, joint ventures, dispute resolution and regulatory compliance.

 For more than two decades, CE Group has delivered complex electrical and engineering projects across Australia and the Pacific, building a reputation for providing practical, end-to-end engineering solutions in some of the region's most challenging operating environments. From major mining operations and hospitals to water infrastructure and renewable energy developments, the company has supported clients with integrated engineering services across a diverse range of sectors. Founded in 2000 in South East Queensland, CE Group has steadily expanded its footprint beyond Australia into Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Zealand. Today, the privately owned business provides a full suite of services, from engineering design and electrical construction to switchboard manufacturing, commissioning and ongoing maintenance. Rather than engaging multiple contractors, clients increasingly turn to CE Group as a single integrated delivery partner capable of managing projects from concept through to completion. As infrastructure projects continue to grow in scale and complexity, integrated project delivery has become increasingly important. In response to this shift, CE Group has strengthened its in-house engineering capability, enabling it to become involved much earlier in the project lifecycle. Early engineering engagement helps reduce project risks while providing greater certainty around cost, quality and schedule. It also improves coordination and collaboration between project teams, identifies potential challenges before construction begins, and supports more efficient project delivery.  By bringing engineers, designers, manufacturers and construction teams together under one roof, the company aims to deliver practical, buildable solutions that improve project outcomes. The move also reflects broader changes across the infrastructure sector. Throughout Australia and the Pacific, governments and private investors continue to increase investment in renewable energy, water security, mining, industrial facilities and other critical infrastructure.  Many project owners are seeking delivery partners with the technical capability to support projects from early planning and design through construction, commissioning and long-term maintenance, rather than contractors focused solely on construction. For CE Group, expanding its engineering capability positions the business to meet that demand. The company says earlier involvement in project planning enables it to improve constructability, identify potential issues before construction begins, streamline project delivery and develop more efficient engineering solutions. These capabilities have already been demonstrated across a diverse portfolio of projects. In Papua New Guinea, CE Group has contributed to major developments including the Angau Memorial Hospital Redevelopment and APEC Haus, while across Australia it has delivered electrical and engineering solutions for mining, water and industrial infrastructure projects. Alongside strengthening its technical capability, CE Group continues to invest in its people and regional presence. The company now employs more than 450 people across multiple countries and maintains a strong focus on safety, workforce development and local capability building. Investing in local talent remains a key part of its regional strategy, particularly across Pacific markets where demand for skilled engineering and technical expertise continues to grow. Looking ahead, the company expects continued investment in the energy transition, industrial expansion and essential infrastructure to create new opportunities across the region. With its expanded engineering capability and integrated delivery model, CE Group believes it is well positioned to support clients through every stage of increasingly complex projects. As infrastructure demands continue to evolve, the company's strategy remains focused on combining engineering expertise, practical execution and long-term partnerships to deliver projects more efficiently, safely and reliably. In an environment where project certainty is increasingly valued alongside technical capability, CE Group's integrated approach is designed to help clients achieve better outcomes throughout the project lifecycle.

Customs leaders from 24 Pacific administrations will gather in Fiji this week for the 28th Annual Conference of the Oceania Customs Organisation, focusing on strengthening border security, facilitating trade and supporting economic growth across the region. The conference, to be held from June 2 to 4 under Fiji's chairmanship of the Oceania Customs Organisation, will bring together heads of customs agencies, senior government officials, development partners and international organizations under the theme, "Scaling Up the Commitment of Customs to Protect and Grow our Pasifika Communities." The meeting comes as Pacific nations face increasing pressure from transnational organized crime, shifting trade patterns and growing demands on border management agencies. According to organizers, discussions will focus on enhancing regional cooperation and building customs capabilities to address emerging security and trade challenges. Recent large-scale narcotics seizures across the Pacific have highlighted attempts by organized criminal networks to exploit maritime and aviation routes across the region. Customs administrations also continue to confront risks linked to human trafficking, illicit financial flows, customs fraud, environmental crimes and the smuggling of prohibited goods. OCO Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, Udit Singh, said customs agencies play a critical role in protecting communities while supporting economic development. "Customs today is far more than a border agency. We are guardians of our communities, facilitators of trade, protectors of government revenue, and partners in economic growth," Singh said. "The work of Customs directly impacts the prosperity, safety, and resilience of our Pacific nations." Singh said Pacific countries, despite being geographically dispersed, face common challenges that require collective action and stronger regional partnerships. "The scale and complexity of modern border threats mean that no country can address these issues alone. Regional cooperation is essential. When one Pacific border is strengthened, the entire region becomes safer and more secure," he said. He noted that the Pacific occupies an increasingly strategic position within global trade and transport networks linking Asia, Australasia and the Americas, making effective customs administration critical to regional and international security. The conference will feature contributions from international partners including the World Customs Organization, the United Nations and the World Bank. Key agenda items include border security, maritime enforcement, trade facilitation, passenger processing, digital transformation, leadership development and intelligence-sharing across Pacific jurisdictions. During Fiji's tenure as OCO chair, the organization has prioritized regional capacity building, leadership development, customs modernization and stronger partnerships with international agencies. Organizers said these initiatives have helped strengthen customs administrations across the Pacific and improve their ability to respond to emerging threats and opportunities. This year's gathering marks the first time in more than a decade that Fiji has hosted the OCO Annual Conference, reflecting the country's continued role in regional customs cooperation. Members of the Oceania Customs Organisation include Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, Palau, Timor-Leste and other Pacific jurisdictions.