Solomon Islands and Australia have strengthened their strategic partnership following high-level bilateral talks between Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. The discussions highlighted renewed momentum in bilateral relations, with both governments committing to enhanced cooperation across security, infra...

President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Masato Kanda, has described the Tina River Hydropower Project as a transformational initiative following his visit to the site on 16 February 2026. Speaking during the visit, President Kanda said the project, once completed, will provide clean and reliable electricity to Honiara, supplying more than two-th...

Weir, a global leader in mining technology, has successfully installed China’s largest mill circuit slurry pump. The order includes six WARMAN® MCR® 650 pumps and two WARMAN® MCR® 750 pumps. The site, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), sits 5,300 metres above sea level. The thin air and freezing temperatures create a complex operating enviro...

The Government of New Caledonia has welcomed the official launch of the “Tamtam” submarine fibre optic cable, a 411-kilometre system connecting Port-Vila in Vanuatu to Lifou in the Loyauté Islands province of New Caledonia. The launch ceremony took place on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, with representatives from the Asian Bank of Development and Prima Ltd...

The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) has released the 2025 Cook Islands National Bathymetry Grid, marking a significant step forward in the country’s marine data capability and ocean management framework. Now available through SBMA’s Seabed Data Repository, the new national grid integrates historic and recent survey data to deliver the most comprehensi...

The Minister for Finance, Esrom Immanuel, has welcomed the European Union’s decision to remove Fiji from its list of non‑cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, calling it a strong endorsement of the Coalition Government’s reform agenda. The move reflects Fiji’s sustained commitment to transparency, good governance, and full alignment with internat...

A joint team from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) visited the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) this week as part of their regular monitoring programme. The delegation was accompanied by the Project Office’s Environment and Social (E&S) team. The mission focused on the Dam Site and Powerhouse Site, reviewing cons...

The Government of New Caledonia has announced that Air Calédonie will transfer its operations from Magenta Airport to La Tontouta International Airport on 2 March 2026, following extensive consultation with stakeholders. The move aims to strengthen the airline’s long-term viability and optimise the territory’s aviation infrastructure.   Strategic Re...

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele today welcomed the first-ever Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for Solomon Islands, Anthony Gill, during a courtesy visit at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Gill briefed the Prime Minister on preparations for the official opening of ADB’s Solomon Islands office next Tuesday, which will be...

Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands have formally deposited their instruments of ratification for the Agreement Establishing the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF Treaty), advancing efforts to operationalise the Blue Pacific region’s first Pacific-led, member-owned and managed, and people-centred climate and disaster resilience financing institution. On 13 F...

The Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Franklyn Derek Wasi, delivered statements on behalf of the Solomon Islands Government at the Forty-Ninth Session of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). He participated in two high-level Leaders’ Dialogues focusing on financing rural development and inv...

Pacific Lime and Cement Limited has entered into a long-term quicklime offtake agreement with Newmont Corporation, the world’s leading gold producer, to supply its Papua New Guinea operations from PLC’s Central Lime Project in Central Province. Under the agreement, Newmont becomes a cornerstone customer, with contracted volumes representing around one-...

The Sepik Development Project (SDP) is a nation-building initiative in Papua New Guinea, delivering transformative infrastructure, renewable power, and essential services to remote communities while responsibly developing one of the world’s largest gold and copper deposits. “Utilising world-leading engineering and renewable-powered design, the project ...

PNG Air continues to strengthen its operations and network with the arrival of its fourth ATR aircraft in six months, part of the airline’s ongoing fleet renewal programme, increasing capacity to meet growing demand across the country. The new aircraft will maximise the expanded schedule and enhance operational reliability as PNG Air continues to serve...

The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) recently held community consultations in Aitutaki to provide updates on developments in the seabed minerals sector and to hear directly from local communities. The consultations form part of SBMA’s ongoing commitment to transparent, community-led engagement, as the Cook Islands remains in an exploration-on...

 Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has reaffirmed the strong and enduring partnership between Solomon Islands and New Zealand while delivering remarks at the Waitangi Day Reception hosted by the New Zealand High Commission on 5 February. Addressing distinguished guests, members of the diplomatic corps, senior government officials and membe...

The Solomon Islands, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, has reaffirmed its strong partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), highlighting agriculture as the backbone of food security, economic growth and national stability. Speaking at the 49th Session of the Governing Council of IFAD during...

The Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Independent Advisory Board convened its annual board meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, on 11 February 2026, reaffirming its commitment to strong governance, accountability and strategic leadership across the PTI network. The meeting was chaired by Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Baron Divavesi Waqa, who formally w...

OFC Tech Solutions, a Remington Group company, announces a strategic partnership with Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, a leading provider of secure networking and communication solutions that enable organisations and industries to accelerate their operational efficiencies and competitiveness. This collaboration is set to modernise enterprise-grade networking an...

Weir’s materials technology capabilities are a key factor in WARMAN® MCR® slurry pumps remaining the preferred solution for mill circuit applications among the world’s major miners. Notably, Weir’s long-standing expertise in elastomer science enables its rubber-lined pumps to compete directly with, and often outperform, metal-lined alternatives in abrasiv...

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka held a bilateral meeting with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, the Rt Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and her delegation ahead of the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, which begins in Nadi on 9 February. Also attending were Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister Sakiasi Ditoka; Acting Attorney-General and J...

More than 600 small businesses across the South Pacific, including 402 in Papua New Guinea, have benefited from the YES GROW Business Development Training programme, a flagship partnership between BSP Financial Group Limited and Australian Business Volunteers (ABV). The milestone was marked on Wednesday, 4 February, 2026, with the graduation of the 202...

Steamships has launched two community grants programmes to coincide with Global Community Engagement Day, reinforcing its focus on volunteerism and community-led development across Papua New Guinea. The company introduced the Steamies LEAD Grants Programme, an internal initiative aimed at enabling employees to design and lead their own community projec...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) and World Vision Solomon Islands (WVSI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) earlier this week at MALD headquarters in Honiara, reaffirming their shared commitment to promote sustainable and resilient livelihoods across the Solomon Islands. The MOU was signed by MALD Permanent Secretary...