Vanuatu has laid a strong policy foundation for an inclusive private sector that can harness the full potential of women and people with disabilities in driving economic growth, with the focus now on ensuring its effective implementation, according to a new assessment launched yesterday by the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Pacific Private Sector Developm...

Prime Minister Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka officially opened the multi-million-dollar Fijian Holdings Limited (FHL) Tower, an investment that showcases resilience, vision, and progress for Fiji and the iTaukei community. The 18-storey tower, located in the heart of Suva, is Fiji’s first green-certified building, designed with 11 environmentally sustaina...

The Government of the Cook Islands proudly announces that the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board has approved the country’s second national funding proposal, titled “Direct Financing for Communities and Businesses to Respond to Climate Change in the Cook Islands.” This marks another major milestone, just 19 months after the approval of our first national G...

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), through its Pacific Tourism Data Initiative (PTDI) and in collaboration with the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (CIT), has released a series of five comprehensive reports detailing findings from the International Visitor Survey (IVS). Covering the periods July–September 2024, October–December 2024, January–Mar...

The Santa Cruz Airfield upgrade in Temotu Province is making significant progress towards completion, marking a major milestone in enhancing the Solomon Islands’ aviation sector. The project, funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA), is progressing steadily. Recent works include the application of ...

The Solomon Islands took part in the 8th General Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), held from 27 to 30 October 2025 at the Bharat Mandapam Exhibition Hall in New Delhi. The delegation was led by Derick Rawcliff Manuari, Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, and included senior officials from the Ministry’s Energy Divisio...

In the calm waters of N’Go Bay, a striking grey and red vessel with towering white cylindrical sails drew the attention of local residents on 31 October. Measuring 195 metres in length and capable of carrying 64,000 tonnes of ore, L’Afros is not just another bulk carrier—it represents a new chapter in sustainable maritime transport. New Caledonia’s Pre...

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification has formalised a new chapter in scientific cooperation with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China Geological Survey (CGS). The agreement was signed on 23 October 2025 in Tianjin, China by Solomon Islands Ambassador to China Barret Salato, on behalf of th...

The Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) marked a transformative year in 2023/2024, extending the reach, reliability, and resilience of the nation’s water services under the leadership of the Coalition Government. In a ministerial statement to Parliament, Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Hon. Ro Filipe Tuisawau said the financi...

The Fijian Government, through the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is working closely with Fiji Airports and Fiji Airways to strengthen aviation safety and minimize the risks posed by bird strikes across the country’s airports. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka told Parliament that both organizations are implementing coor...

President Ishmael Toroama has laid out a comprehensive vision for Bougainville’s new parliamentary term, centred on three key pillars — political independence, economic independence, and good governance. Delivering his inaugural address at the second sitting of the Fifth Bougainville House of Representatives, President Toroama said, “Let me now focus o...

Six senior officers from the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) have successfully completed a bilateral training seminar on ‘Rural Development’ in China last Friday. The program was held from October 9th to 31st, 2025, at the Institute of Administration and Management (AMI) in Beijing, a training and research institution of the Ministry of Agriculture...

The Coalition Government is taking decisive steps to enhance air and sea connectivity for the Yasawa Group, with plans for a new airport and improved ferry services aimed at strengthening access, opportunity, and services for island communities. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka informed Parliament of the ...

The Assistant Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics Esrom Immanuel joined senior diplomats and international experts as a panelist at a high-level discussion on “Mobilizing Sustainable Finance in Caribbean and Pacific Developing States (SIDS).” In his remarks, Immanuel underscored the urgent need for innovative a...

Fiji is taking a major step toward strengthening its tourism industry with the introduction of the Fiji Tourism Policy 2025–2035 and the Fiji Tourism Standards Framework Guidance Note, both designed to guide the creation of the nation’s first-ever Tourism Law. According to the latest Cabinet update, the two documents will serve as key pillars in shapin...

The operator of the PNG LNG Project, ExxonMobil PNG Limited, recently welcomed 75 outstanding ninth-grade girls from five Port Moresby schools for a day of hands-on science experiments, mentorship, and exciting activities designed to spark their curiosity and build their confidence in engineering. Now in its second year in Papua New Guinea, ExxonMobil’...

Marine salvage is a discipline defined by urgency, complexity, and risk. Every operation is different, and every operation is high-stakes – multi-million-dollar assets, lives, and marine ecosystems are often at risk. In Melanesia, Pacific Towing (PacTow) has consistently demonstrated the expertise and resolve to tackle these challenges head-on. A homegrow...

The Fijian Government is advancing a major environmental and agricultural reform through the “Revitalising Ecosystems for Sustainable Agriculture and Resilience in Fiji” Project — a transformative initiative designed to restore degraded ecosystems, promote climate-smart agriculture, and strengthen rural resilience. The Ministry of Environment and Clima...

The Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, William McDonald Soaki, joined a Solomon Islands Government delegation led by Dr. Chris Vehe, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, to attend the 2025 Papua New Guinea Petroleum and Energy Conference held in Port Moresby from October 8–9. Also part of ...

The Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) has announced four landmark projects set to transform the economic landscape of Papua New Guinea’s gas-rich Hela Province. Formalised through key agreements signed in Tari on October 17, the projects mark a new phase of investment aimed at accelerating development and improving local livelihoods. The ...

Tuvalu has entered a new digital age with the successful connection of the Vaka Cable, the nation’s first international subsea cable system, which promises to deliver faster, more reliable and more affordable internet to its people. The historic launch was celebrated in Funafuti alongside the Government of Tuvalu, Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation ...

Fiji remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthening tourism and aviation connectivity across the Pacific region. This was underscored by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka during the Ministerial Dialogue on Connecting Tourism and Aviation held in Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga. Hosted by the Pacific ...

A Fijian delegation, including representatives from the Reserve Bank of Fiji, Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, MSMEs and Communications, and the Fiji Investment Corporation Limited, visited Malaysia in August to learn from the country’s experience with equity crowdfunding (ECF) and peer-to-peer lending (P2PL). The study tour was organised by the Pacif...

Fiji and Turkey have reaffirmed their long-standing bilateral partnership with renewed discussions on waste management and sustainable environmental development. Minister for Housing and Local Government Maciu Nalumisa met with a high-level delegation from the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, led by Deputy Director-Gene...