Reducing single-use plastics (SUPs) and strengthening environmental stewardship in the Pacific’s tourism sector took centre stage during a panel discussion at the Third Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit (PSTLS), held in Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga. Under the theme “Environmental Stewardship through Tourism,” the panel session on Goal 4: Health...

In a landmark decision, the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) governing board approved Fiji’s US$27 million Nature, People, and Climate (NPC) Investment Plan, developed in partnership with the World Bank. The plan adopts a “mountain-to-ocean” approach to strengthen climate resilience across watersheds, coastal zones, and marine ecosystems. It is expected ...

As one of Papua New Guinea's most vital industries, the mining sector relies on infrastructure that minimises downtime and maximises productivity. Water management—often overlooked in mining discussions—is critical to both safety and profitability. Truflo Pumps, an Australian-owned and operated company, has maintained a longstanding relationship with P...

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), in partnership with Tourism Solomons (TSO) and the Solomon Islands Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT), has released the results of the 2024 Community Attitude Survey (CAS)—the first nationwide study of its kind in the Solomon Islands. The research findings provide insight into how Solomon Islanders perceive tour...

The Solomon Islands National Statistics Office (SINSO) has announced the successful completion of the 2024 National Economic Establishment Census (NEEC), covering all principal business locations across the nine provinces and the capital, Honiara. Supported technically and financially by the World Bank under the Capacity Building for Statistics and Aud...

The archipelago of New Caledonia has moved to bring greater cohesion to its cruise tourism sector with the launch of the Club Croisière de Nouvelle‑Calédonie (CCNC). The initiative, unveiled jointly by institutional and private actors in the territory’s tourism ecosystem, is aimed at re-establishing New Caledonia as a competitive cruise destination in the...

The exploration vessel Nautilus has begun an ambitious deep-sea mission to study the hidden ecosystems of the Cook Islands’ Marae Moana, deploying a groundbreaking 4K camera system that promises to reveal the ocean depths in unprecedented clarity. For the first time, scientists are testing the MxD SeaCam, an ultra-high-resolution camera developed by De...

Aitken Spence Plantation Managements PLC has announced a landmark agricultural initiative in Fiji aimed at transforming the island nation’s commercial farming sector. The strategic undertaking brings together Sri Lanka’s plantation expertise and Fiji’s agricultural potential, with a focus on modernising farming systems, introducing sustainable agro-techno...

REnew Pacific’s Respond Global project has reached the halfway mark in its mission to power up remote healthcare facilities across Vanuatu, switching on clean energy and water systems at five health facilities in Sanma Province. The upgrades, completed last month, are improving care for the 11,700 people the facilities serve. The HELPR-1 team completed...

The Government of New Caledonia has formalised the second phase of its state-guaranteed loan (PGE), following authorisation by the Congress on October 9. The agreement was signed on October 14 by Government President Alcide Ponga, High Commissioner of the Republic Jacques Billant, and the Regional Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) Safia Ibra...

Tuvalu has launched its first-ever Oceans Policy consultations, officially beginning the process to protect and sustainably manage the nation’s marine resources. In his opening remarks, Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Fakasoa Tealei emphasised the deep cultural and economic importance of the ocean to Tuvalu’s way of life. “Our ocean is...

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Biman Prasad met with Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) Global Director Ramesh Subramaniam on the sidelines of the 2025 IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings. The discussion focused on Fiji’s leadership in disaster risk financing and infrastructure resilience across the Pacific, following the...

From 16 to 30 September 2025, the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) hosted a two-week research training program for the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA), aimed at strengthening PNGTPA’s capacity to manage and deliver high-quality tourism research through the Pacific Tourism Data Initiative (PTDI). The PTDI program, funded by the ...

Construction of the new Aviation Complex Building near Honiara International Airport is advancing steadily, with major milestones achieved as part of the government’s push to modernise the nation’s aviation infrastructure under the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP2), supported by the World Bank. Implemented by the Ministry of Co...

The Concessional Financing Partners (CFPs), led by the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), have completed a week-long safeguard mission to the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP). The mission brought together the Project Office (PO) representing the Solomon Islands Government (SIG), Tina Hydropower Limited (THL), Hyundai...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) is realising the opportunity of advancing Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a key strategy for transforming the agriculture and livestock sector in the Solomon Islands. In recent collaborations, MAL has signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Liberty Holdings Limited, Sullivans (Solomon Is...

The Fiji Government has commended Agri Exchange, a PALM Scheme Approved Employer under the Costa Group, for setting a high standard in worker welfare by putting people first while running a successful business. The Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Agni Deo Singh expressed his sincere appreciation to the company for its com...

The Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu — known as the Na Vualiku Project — continues to gather momentum, with contracts worth more than FJ$22 million (US$9.7 million) already signed and several major procurements now underway. The project, spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MTCA) in partnership with the World Bank, a...

Ok Tedi Mining Limited (Ok Tedi) has successfully completed the construction of a critical underground pump station project that improves mine water management, enhances safety and delivers significant cost savings. The project, which commenced in August 2024 and was completed in June 2025, was delivered incident-free and under budget, achieving a cost...

The Solomon Islands delegation has celebrated its National Day at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka–Kansai, Japan, with heartfelt tributes to Japan, moving cultural performances, and a strong message on ocean conservation. Leading the celebrations, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Peter Shanel Agovaka praised Japan for successfully hosting the...

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat has welcomed the entry into force of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 15 September 2025. The agreement entered into force following ratifications from Tonga, Brazil, Kenya and Vietnam — meeting the two-thirds requirement needed to bring it into effect. The Fisheries Subsidies A...

Adaptation to the devastating impacts of climate change for Pacific communities is not a choice but a matter of survival, a Solomon Islands climate negotiator has stressed. As Pacific climate negotiators convened in Samoa, Melissa Horokou of the Solomon Islands Ministry of Climate Change said adaptation remains a top priority for her country and for al...

Lion One Metals Ltd. has reported solid progress at its 100 percent-owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji, achieving stronger production results and faster underground development as the mine moves deeper into commercial operations. The Canadian gold miner said it produced 5,704 tonnes of material grading 10.60 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from its ...

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele officially witnessed the signing of a shareholding agreement between Kolombangara Forestry Plantation Ltd. (KFPL), the Kolombangara Landowners Trust Foundation (KLTF) and new investor New Forest. Prime Minister Manele praised the collaboration, saying it follows his government’s efforts through a Cabinet subcommittee to t...