India and Fiji have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding agricultural cooperation, with both countries looking to build on a five-year partnership that spans agricultural research, technology transfer, capacity building, mechanization and market access. Indian High Commissioner to Fiji Suneet Mehta paid a courtesy visit to Fiji's Minister for Agric...

An $80 million mixed-use commercial development in Nadi is expected to create more than 680 permanent jobs, with the Fiji government describing the project as a major vote of confidence in the country's economy and private investment climate. Finance, Commerce and Business Development Minister Esrom Immanuel unveiled the proposed Damodar City Nadi deve...

Fiji has launched its first climate risk insurance product designed specifically for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), offering businesses rapid financial assistance after cyclones and floods through automatic payouts triggered by predefined weather conditions. The product, unveiled by Minister for Commerce and Business Development Esrom Imm...

Lion One Metals Ltd. has acquired a new Boart Longyear LM90 underground core drill as part of its strategy to expand production at the Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Mine, with the equipment expected to improve exploration and resource growth in two key mineralised zones. The Canadian gold producer said the purpose-built underground drill will allow it to conduc...

Fiji is leading negotiations on international rules governing the closure of deep-sea mining operations during the Thirty-First Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Kingston, Jamaica, while continuing to push for stronger environmental safeguards and a precautionary approach to seabed mineral exploitation. The ISA's 31st Session, whic...

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) has awarded SBD 1.34 million in grants to four indigenous agribusinesses under the Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP), supporting the government's push to expand value-added agriculture, strengthen market access and improve rural livelihoods. The funding will su...

 The Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) has released the findings of its Mid-Term Socioeconomic Survey, showing improvements in household livelihoods and quality of life in affected communities while highlighting persistent concerns over benefit sharing, environmental impacts and social issues. The survey, presented by consultant Gerard ...

The Fijian government, together with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), has launched the Fiji Blue Economy and Green Community Development Programme (BE-GREEN), a $24.26 million initiative aimed at transforming rural livelihoods while restoring ecosystems on Vanua Levu. The multi-phased...

The World Bank is proposing to introduce its AgriConnect initiative in Solomon Islands to sustain the gains of the Solomon Islands Agriculture Rural Transformation (SIART) Project and strengthen agricultural value chains through greater private sector participation after the project concludes later this year. The proposal was presented by World Bank Se...

Fiji has opened a new eco-tourism destination in Nabalabala Village, Ra Province, aimed at creating new income opportunities for local communities while promoting forest conservation and sustainable tourism. The Navatuvoka Eco-Tourism and Forest Park was officially launched to support community-led economic development through eco-tourism, handicrafts,...

Solomon Islands and the United States have signed a Shiprider Agreement to strengthen maritime surveillance, protect marine resources and combat illegal activities across the country's vast maritime domain. Signed in Honiara, the agreement establishes a framework allowing authorized Solomon Islands law enforcement officers to embark on designated US ve...

The Solomon Islands government has stepped up its legislative and policy reform agenda, with the Prime Minister's Policy Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (PIMEU) holding a second round of consultations with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration. The consultation, led by PIMEU's Legislative and Policy Reform Subcommitt...

Solomon Islands has strengthened its partnership with Japan after signing a Development Policy Loan agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aimed at supporting fiscal stability, governance reforms and long-term economic resilience. The agreement was signed in Tokyo by Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Rick Houenip...

Fiji has launched the Blue Economy and Green Community Development (BE-GREEN) Programme, a six-year initiative aimed at strengthening rural livelihoods, restoring ecosystems and building climate resilience across Vanua Levu. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka launched the program in Koronatoga Village, Cakaudrove, describing it as a major step toward susta...

Solomon Islands Acting Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo received a delegation from the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) during a courtesy visit on July 24, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening political party exchanges and bilateral cooperation. The delegation was led by Zhao Hongtao, deputy direct...

House of Salt was named Fiji's National SME of the Year at the Fiji Development Bank (FDB) National Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Awards 2025, where President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu praised entrepreneurs for driving economic growth, innovation and community development. Speaking at the awards ceremony in Suva on July 24, the president described sm...

Fiji has reaffirmed its commitment to a safe, inclusive and digitally connected Pacific after joining regional leaders at the Pacific ICT Ministers Meeting in Port Moresby, where ministers endorsed new initiatives to strengthen digital cooperation and accelerate the region's digital transformation. Led by Minister for Policing and Communications Ioane ...

The Solomon Islands government has signed contracts with 83 companies under its Preferred Supplier Arrangement (PSA), clearing the way for the full implementation of the 2026 Constituency Development Fund (CDF) programme. The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) said the legally binding agreements followed the completion of the government's supplier qua...

Canadian explorer Kalo Gold Corp. has confirmed widespread gold mineralisation at its 100%-owned Vatu Aurum Project in Fiji, with laboratory fire assays returning grades of up to 8.78 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, reinforcing the company's geological model ahead of a new phase of exploration. The assay results from the Wainikoro prospect confirmed that s...

Canadian gold producer Lion One Metals Ltd. has begun the first phase of a multi-stage expansion of its Tuvatu Gold Mine processing plant in Fiji, a project expected to increase mill capacity by one-third and lift annual gold production by about 2,100 ounces. The first phase, known as the Filtered Tailings Expansion Project, will increase nominal plant...

Solomon Islands Finance and Treasury Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has directed the Customs and Excise Division to immediately impose a 15% export duty on alluvial gold and gold concentrates, while ordering authorities to recover unpaid duties retrospectively from the date the Harmonised System (HS) 2022 tariff schedule came into effect. In a ministerial ...

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members have adopted a new regional aid-for-trade strategy for 2026–2030, setting out a coordinated agenda to strengthen trade, digital commerce, connectivity and climate-resilient economic development across the Blue Pacific. The Pacific Aid for Trade Strategy (PAfTS) 2026–2030 builds on the previous five-year framework and...

Fiji and New Zealand have strengthened their bilateral relationship with the signing of the refreshed Duavata Partnership 2026–2030, committing to deeper cooperation in trade, security, climate action and sustainable development over the next five years. The agreement was signed in Auckland by Fiji's Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Sak...

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has held talks with United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in Washington, D.C., reaffirming bilateral ties and advancing discussions on infrastructure, energy and investment cooperation. The meeting at the U.S. State Department focused on strengthening the long-standing partnership between...