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...

Filji Minister for Immigration Viliame Naupoto met with New Zealand’s Minister for Customs Casey Costello in Suva as part of the overall effort by both countries to enhance bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of border and regional security. During their discussions, Naupoto and Costello s exchanged views on strengthening collaboration to ...

The Government of Fiji and the Republic of India convened the Sixth Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) reaffirming their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, cultural ties, socio-economic development and international cooperation. The consultations brought together senior officials from both governments to review current areas of coo...

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...

Nick van Voorst is an Australian Registered Migration Agent (MARN: 0640648), a Registered Education Agent (M042) and the owner of Coral Coast Migration Service. He has studied Australian Migration Law at Griffith University in Brisbane and has been working as a Registered Migration Agent since 2006. He is a member of the Migration Institute of Australi...

Fiji Airways is introducing a series of new onboard experiences, beginning with a vibrant Pacific Rim–inspired menu now available on select flights. This marks a bold step forward in its commitment to exceptional Fijian hospitality, service and world-class excellence. Leading this transformation is the new Dine on Demand concept in Business Class, laun...

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...

The 24th Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) Ministerial Meeting and the 6th Regional Fisheries Ministers Meeting (RFMM) concluded today in Niue, with a Ministerial Retreat held in Alofi. Ministers from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu attended the meeting, along with th...

In a landmark development for Pacific fisheries, officials have reached consensus on the long-standing issue of South Pacific albacore (SPA) tuna allocation within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of the Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Members south of the equator. This breakthrough comes after nearly two decades of negotiations and repr...

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...

A joint inspection team led by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) Safeguards Unit has completed a review of four bridge construction sites in Malaita Province, engaging closely with local communities and project stakeholders along the way. The visit, carried out last week, covered the Kolofe 1 and 2 bridges along the North Road, and the S...

Economic growth in Pacific island nations is expected to hold steady this year but slow slightly in 2026, according to the Asian Development Bank’s latest Asian Development Outlook (ADO) released 23 July, 2025. The ADB maintained its 2025 growth projection for the Pacific at 3.9 percent, while the 2026 forecast has been adjusted downward to 3.5 percent...

Canadian miner Lion One Metals Ltd. posted a strong quarter with record performance and C$16.3 million (US$11.9 million) in revenue from its Tuvatu Gold Mine in Fiji, supported by higher gold prices, increased recoveries and strong mill output. In a quarterly update, the Vancouver-based firm said it sold 3,577 ounces of gold and 1,233 ounces of silver ...

Port Moresby – Australian gold miner St Barbara is reporting encouraging results from its recent drilling efforts at its Simberi operations in Papua New Guinea, where the company has found more gold mineralization and sulphide-rich rock directly beneath existing open-pit mines. The new discoveries come from a large-scale drilling programme aimed at ext...

BOULOUPARIS, New Caledonia — Christopher Gygès, member of the New Caledonia government responsible for energy, led the launch of several renewable energy projects in Boulouparis on Friday, 18 July at 10 a.m. at the TotalEnergies Renouvelables Pacific site. Joined by Pascal Vittori, mayor of Boulouparis, as well as representatives from TotalEnergies Ren...

Suva, Fiji – JMR Infotech, a global leader in core banking and digital technology solutions, convened the Pacific’s top financial minds for the JMR CXO Dialogue – Fiji 2025, held in the first week of July at the Tanoa Plaza Hotel in Suva. Themed “The Future of Financial Services in the Digital Age,” the Dialogue offered an important platform for Fijian...

SUVA, Fiji — The South Pacific Stock Exchange (SPX) has announced its admission as a member of the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges (UN SSE) initiative, joining a global network of more than 130 exchanges working together to promote sustainable development. The move signals SPX’s strong commitment to advancing sustainable finance and responsi...

Honiara, Solomon Islands, June 26, 2025 — The Tina River Hydropower Development Project last week welcomed senior representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank for a joint site visit to see firsthand the momentum building behind Solomon Islands’ first large-scale renewable energy project. The high-level delegation, which incl...

TOARE, Gulf Province — The Toare Mask Festival has been successfully revived through a collaboration between TotalEnergies, the National Cultural Commission (NCC), and the Gulf Provincial Government. The two-day cultural event, held on 12-13 July, marked the 20th anniversary of the festival and the official opening of the Toare Cultural Centre. First e...

SUVA, Fiji — Climate change is already shaking the foundations of Pacific communities, and world leaders need to see that for themselves, Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Biman Prasad said Wednesday as he threw his support behind Australia’s bid to co-host COP31 with the Pacific. “Climate change is the single greatest threat to our peo...

LAMI, Fiji — 14 July 2025 — Fiji is opening its doors to new investment, calling on New Zealand businesses to partner in building the country’s cold chain logistics and expanding into value-added agriculture and eco-tourism. Speaking at the Fiji Business Mission hosted by the New Zealand Fiji Business Council in Lami, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister...

HONIARA, Solomon Islands — 9 July 2025 — One of Honiara’s most recognisable landmarks is preparing for a bold new chapter, as King Hotel and Resorts Limited (KHRL) embarks on a $45 million redevelopment of the King Solomon Hotel. A joint venture between the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF) Board and the O’Neill Remington Group (ORG), KHR...

HONIARA, Solomon Islands — Steady progress is being made on the new Honiara Aviation Complex Building, a key infrastructure component under the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP2). The initiative is being implemented by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) with support from the World Bank. The contractor, China Railwa...