The Government of New Caledonia has formalised the second phase of its state-guaranteed loan (PGE), following authorisation by the Congress on October 9. The agreement was signed on October 14 by Government President Alcide Ponga, High Commissioner of the Republic Jacques Billant, and the Regional Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) Safia Ibra...

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Biman Prasad met with Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) Global Director Ramesh Subramaniam on the sidelines of the 2025 IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings. The discussion focused on Fiji’s leadership in disaster risk financing and infrastructure resilience across the Pacific, following the...

Economic growth in the Pacific is expected to pick up next year, buoyed by strong resource output in Papua New Guinea (PNG), according to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2025, released Monday by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The report projects Pacific economies to expand by 4.1 percent in 2025, before moderating to 3.4 percent in 202...

Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Biman Prasad on Wednesday received the transfer of $146 million in profits from the Reserve Bank of Fiji, together with the presentation of the Bank’s audited financial statements for the year ending 31 July 2025. Speaking at the handover, Prasad congratulated the Bank on achieving another record result. ...

The World Bank has appointed Han Fraeters as its Division Director for Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, effective 16 September. Fraeters’ appointment marks the first time a director-level position has been based in Port Moresby, underscoring the World Bank’s commitment to bringing leadership closer to its clients. The move is part of a gl...

Fiji has become the first nation in the Pacific to help small and medium-sized businesses become resilient under the Global Climate Financing Partnership through a bold new partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). The initiative will stren...

Fiji’s digital journey is set to accelerate as the government launches a phased rollout of 5G technology, starting this year in the nation’s busiest cities before extending to rural and maritime communities. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communications Manoa Kamikamica unveiled the Cabinet-endorsed 5G Spectrum Assignment and Rollout Strategy i...

The Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) has been allocated $284.4 million in the 2025-2026 Budget to deliver major upgrades to water and wastewater infrastructure across the country. The funding will go towards upgrading water sources and treatment plants, improving water pipes and supply systems, and reducing water loss. A further $4.9 million will be used ...

The Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC) has begun a review of the Solomon Islands National Infrastructure Investment Plan (SINIIP) to ensure major projects are better prioritised and aligned with national development goals. A national workshop was held on 13 August, bringing together senior government officials, state-own...

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has met with Dr. Fahad Al Taffaq, the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Australia, in a bid to deepen ties and explore new avenues of cooperation between Solomon Islands and the UAE. During talks in Honiara, Manele shared updates on the Bina Harbour project, describing it as a transformational initiative for the nation. ...

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communications Manoa Kamikamica opened the 2nd Pacific ICT Ministerial Dialogue on 8 August, 2025 with a strong appeal for renewed regional unity, collaboration and ambition in the digital space. Speaking in Suva, Kamikamica reaffirmed the symbolic and strategic importance of the Lagatoi Declaration, first adopted...

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Biman Prasad launched on 31 July the Compliance Improvement Strategy (CIS) 2025–2028 at the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS). The CIS introduces a new web-based platform that provides easier access to tax information and services, with a focus on addressing compliance challenges in sectors such as w...

Economic growth is slowing across the Pacific as countries face weak global conditions, natural hazards, and climate-related shocks. The World Bank’s flagship Pacific Economic Update projects regional growth to decline to 2.6 percent in 2025, down from 5.5 percent in 2023. This slowdown coincides with the fading of post-COVID recovery, weakening touris...

The Republic of Vanuatu marked a significant milestone in its international outreach efforts with the successful hosting of its 2025 National (Financial) Resources Promotion Conference in Hong Kong. Organised by the Embassy of Vanuatu in China, the event brought together Chinese and Hong Kong officials, business leaders, listed companies, media, and st...

The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management today reaffirmed its commitment to building stronger and more financially resilient rural communities through the signing of an addendum to its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF). The expanded partnership now formally includes support for parametri...

Pacific Island leaders have formally launched the Pacific Roadmap for Economic Development (PRED) 2025–2030, marking a new chapter in regional cooperation focused on inclusive growth, sustainable finance and economic resilience. The announcement was made during the 2025 Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM) held in Suva, Fiji, where ministers from ac...