Once stripped bare by bushfires, the Ouassé watershed in Canala, New Caledonia is slowly coming back to life thanks to more than a decade of restoration work — and a fresh boost from the Shared Water Policy (PEP) Fund. The Ouassé tribe, an isolated community about 30 kilometres from Canala’s main village, depends on the river’s catchment for its drinki...

The Government of Fiji, in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has celebrated the official commissioning of the IMO Regional Presence Office (RPO) for the Pacific — a historic milestone in strengthening maritime governance, safety and sustainability across the region. Speaking at the commissio...

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communications Manoa Kamikamica opened the 2nd Pacific ICT Ministerial Dialogue on 8 August, 2025 with a strong appeal for renewed regional unity, collaboration and ambition in the digital space. Speaking in Suva, Kamikamica reaffirmed the symbolic and strategic importance of the Lagatoi Declaration, first adopted...

The East Micronesia Cable landed in Tarawa, Kiribati on 26 July 2025 with the international telecommunications cable now just months away from being ready for service. The occasion was marked by a ceremony celebrating the floating in of the cable to the Tarawa landing site from the cable-laying ship, using a large ceremonial buoy. Kiribati President Ta...

In recognition of World Mangrove Day, Loloata Island Resort led a coastal rehabilitation activity involving resort guests, local staff and volunteers, highlighting its ongoing commitment to marine conservation, ecological restoration and sustainable tourism. The event saw the planting of 58 Aegialitis annulata seedlings in polybags and the transplantat...

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hon Viliame Gavoka urged the international community to move from ideas to action as he officially opened the 2025 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference at the Sofitel Resort in Denarau, Nadi on 5 August 2025. Organised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council in collaboration with Tour...

The Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Communications is pleased to announce that the European Union (EU) has officially activated the global sourcing derogation, allowing processed fishery products from Fiji to benefit from preferential access under the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (IEPA). This ...

The Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Communications welcomes the United States’ decision to reduce the reciprocal tariff on Fijian-origin exports from 32 percent to 15 percent. This development follows sustained and principled engagement by Fiji with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (...

A new global survey of mining executives has delivered a sobering outlook for Oceania, with several Pacific jurisdictions pegged at the lower end of global investment rankings despite their untapped mineral wealth. The Fraser Institute’s 2024 Annual Survey of Mining Companies, which assessed 82 jurisdictions based on geological potential and government...

The Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO), representing 24 Pacific Island Customs administrations, has joined the Pacific E-commerce Alliance, as global digital trade reaches unprecedented levels. The partnership—approved during OCO’s annual conference in Guam—brings crucial Customs expertise to the alliance, which was coordinated by the Pacific Islands Foru...

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of the Solomon Islands have signed a partnership agreement for a US$20 million initiative aimed at improving food security, enhancing nutrition and strengthening resilience to climate change. The six-year project will directly benefit more than 18,000 people. The Agricultural...

The long-awaited reopening of Govind Park, now renamed Four R Stadium, took place on 31 July, marking a significant milestone after the iconic venue was severely damaged by Cyclone Winston in 2016. Officiating at the event was the Minister for Housing and Local Government Maciu Nalumisa, who said the redevelopment is part of a broader vision in which s...

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...