The Solomon Islands government has taken a significant step towards strengthening ocean conservation and management, formally convening the Ocean12 Technical Working Group to drive a five-year integrated initiative supported by the Bezos Earth Fund. The working group, led by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorolo...

Jeremiah Manele has outlined a pipeline of road and bridge projects for Malaita Province, as the government moves to scale up infrastructure delivery under the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project. Speaking at the handover of the Su’u and Bira bridges, Manele said additional financing of about $41 million from the World Bank is being secur...

Master planning has emerged as a central tool in addressing climate vulnerability and rapid urbanisation challenges across Pacific cities, according to discussions at the Seventh Pacific Urban Forum in Papua New Guinea. Delegates at the forum highlighted how Pacific urban centres are increasingly exposed to overlapping risks, including cyclones, floodi...

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the World Bank are accelerating efforts to stabilise correspondent banking relationships (CBRs) across the Pacific, as a multi-year regional project begins to deliver early results amid persistent global financial pressures. The initiative—formally approved in August 2024 and operational since April 2025—marks ...

Westpac is making a significant investment in strengthening leadership capability across its Pacific businesses with the rollout of its best-in-class LEAD program in Papua New Guinea and Fiji this year, delivering training to 120 employees across the two markets. LEAD is Westpac Group’s flagship leadership development program focused on building future...

Step into one of the Pacific’s fastest-growing trade corridors between New Zealand and Fiji from June 15–18, as this business mission offers a unique opportunity to get ahead of the curve—build relationships, unlock opportunities, and grow your presence. With a shared goal of NZ$2 billion in trade by 2030, the initiative positions participants at the fore...

The Government for National Unity and Transformation is reporting renewed momentum in the tourism sector, with four new hotels and accommodation facilities opening in the first quarter of 2026, signalling increased investor confidence and sectoral growth. The new developments include Zaru Hotel in Gizo, Western Province; Double Island Resort and Raider...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development is advancing a series of initiatives aimed at transforming the agriculture sector and supporting economic growth in the Solomon Islands. Permanent Secretary Samson Viulu said during a quarterly ministerial update this week that the ministry is implementing key projects and reforms to strengthen agri...

Sandvik has received five AutoMine® orders from Byrnecut, the world’s largest underground mining contractor. The orders, all of which include AutoMine® Multi-Lite systems, were booked in Q1 2026 for the Gwalia, Ulysses, Youanmi and Gossan Valley mine sites in Australia, as well as the Navachab mine in Namibia. With these latest orders, the majority of Byr...

Fiji’s kava industry has transformed into the country’s top agricultural export over the past 15 years, with export earnings exceeding FJD53 million and supporting more than 14,500 farming households. The shift from subsistence production to a commercialised export sector has been driven by rising demand in key markets including Australia, New Zealand ...

The Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification is accelerating a wide-ranging reform agenda to modernise mining laws and improve fiscal, environmental and social oversight as the sector expands. Permanent Secretary Chris Vehe said the reforms aim to position mining as a key economic pillar, while addressing longstanding regulatory gaps. “Th...

The Seabed Minerals Authority has formally appointed members of its Seabed Minerals Advisory Committee, in a move aimed at strengthening community representation in the development of the sector. Prime Minister Mark Brown, who also holds the seabed minerals portfolio, said the committee will play a key role in ensuring that policy discussions reflect c...

Lion One Metals has reported a series of operational and technical developments at its Tuvatu gold mine in Fiji, signalling a transition toward improved processing capability and longer-term operational stability as the project moves through its ramp-up phase. The Canadian-listed company, which owns and operates the Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project on Viti...

Lion One Metals has received conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange for a non-brokered private placement with Arete Capital, in a move aimed at strengthening liquidity and accelerating operational improvements at its Tuvatu gold project in Fiji. The company announced that the financing, expected to close on 27 March 2026, will raise gross p...

ABG President and Minister for Mining Ishmael Toroama outlined key legislative reforms to strengthen governance of the mining sector during his address to Parliament. The reforms form part of the ABG’s broader efforts to ensure that resource development in Bougainville is undertaken in a safe, responsible and internationally compliant manner, while sup...

The Government has reaffirmed its support for locally driven tourism investment following the launch of a new cruise vessel aimed at expanding Fiji’s premium travel offering. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka officiated at the launch of the MV Yasawa Princess II at Port Denarau in Nadi on 26 March, marking...

The Government of New Caledonia has adopted a draft resolution calling on the French State to extend its electricity cost equalisation mechanism to the territory, in a move aimed at easing energy costs and supporting economic recovery. The decision was approved during the Government’s weekly meeting on 25 March, with authorities seeking to include New ...

The Solomon Islands government is stepping up efforts to advance the Bina Harbour development in Malaita, a flagship fisheries project aimed at transforming the country’s tuna industry and capturing greater economic value from its marine resources. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has prioritised the project in the 2026 budget, allocating...

The Vanuatu Tourism Office and Tourism Solomons Office have completed their second online refresher training for 2026 under the Pacific Tourism Data Initiative, a regional programme aimed at strengthening tourism data capabilities across Pacific Island countries. Delivered in partnership with the Pacific Tourism Organisation, the week-long training hel...

Pacific Island countries are stepping up efforts to strengthen private sector development, recognising its central role as the backbone of their economies and a key driver of long-term growth, employment and innovation. The private sector remains the region’s largest employer and a major contributor to productivity, competition and wealth creation. It ...

A new solar energy system is now powering Sir Dudley Tuti College in Isabel Province, improving access to reliable electricity for one of the Solomon Islands’ largest and most remote secondary schools. The installation marks the first Solomon Islands project under the REnew Pacific programme, delivered by local renewable energy provider Superfly. The s...

The board of Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited has visited the Cancer Service Unit at ANGAU Memorial Hospital, where the company has invested more than K20 million to strengthen cancer treatment services. The investment, implemented between 2020 and 2025 under a tripartite agreement with the Morobe Provincial Health Authority and ANGAU, supported the re...

The Pacific Tourism Organisation has graduated 21 participants from its Online Pasifika Cultural Tourism Training programme, marking a step forward in efforts to strengthen cultural tourism across the region. Participants from eight Pacific countries — Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Vanuatu, French Polynesia, Samoa, Solomon Islands and the F...

Newly appointed Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Nestor Giro has signed two funding agreements under the Commercial Agriculture Development Support Project, underscoring the Solomon Islands government’s push to strengthen local agribusinesses. A total of SBD780,000 has been awarded to two enterprises, with Varivao Holdings Limited receivi...