French Tech New Caledonia has secured French Tech Capital status for 2026–2028, becoming only the second French overseas territory to receive the designation as the Pacific territory accelerates efforts to position itself as a regional technology and innovation hub. The announcement was formally made on May 12 at Station N in Noumea during a joint pres...

The Pacific Tourism Organisation is advancing plans for a regional gender inclusion framework after the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative presented a draft Gender and Inclusive Tourism Action Plan 2026–2030 during the organisation’s board meeting in Fiji. The draft plan was presented by the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative duri...

Fiji Airports has received the 2026 Green Airports Recognition Platinum Award for its Wailoaloa Mangrove Restoration Project at Nadi International Airport, highlighting growing regional focus on climate adaptation and environmental resilience in the aviation sector. The award was presented during the Airports Council International Asia-Pacific and Midd...

The Pacific Tourism Organisation has intensified engagement in regional institutional reform discussions, with its board emphasising the importance of maintaining a dedicated regional mechanism for tourism governance in the Pacific. During a board meeting held last week in Nadi, Fiji, directors received an update on the ongoing Review of the Regional A...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has completed a two-day animal health outreach program in Leitongo Village in Central Province, delivering veterinary services and livestock training aimed at strengthening rural livelihoods and food security. The outreach covered the three communities of Leitongo 1, Leitongo 2 and Leitongo 3, where...

The Malaita Provincial Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening agrifood systems through closer collaboration between government, farmers, businesses and community groups during a provincial consultation workshop held in Auki. The workshop, organised under the theme “Strengthening Provincial Partnerships for Sustainable and Inclusive A...

The treaty establishing the Pacific Resilience Facility officially entered into force on 6 May after Australia and Fiji jointly presented instruments of ratification in Suva, marking a major milestone for regional climate resilience and adaptation financing in the Pacific. The instruments were deposited with Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Baro...

Matthew Cooper Wale has been elected Prime Minister of Solomon Islands after securing majority support in a parliamentary vote held on Friday following the removal of the previous government through a motion of no confidence. Wale, Member of Parliament for Aoke/Langalanga Constituency and former opposition leader, defeated Peter Shanel Agovaka by 26 vo...

Lion One Metals has appointed underground mining executive Eric Setchell as director of operations as the company advances operational improvements at the Tuvatu gold mine in Fiji, including higher development rates and expanded mining areas underground. The company said Setchell previously served as Lion One’s director of operations from January to De...

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) will launch the third phase of their programme aimed at reducing single-use plastics across the Pacific tourism sector, with implementation expected to begin in July or August this year. The initiative, supported by the Australian governmen...

Pacific Islands Forum leaders have invoked the Biketawa Declaration to coordinate a regional response to worsening fuel supply risks linked to ongoing instability in the Middle East, amid growing concerns over the vulnerability of Pacific economies to global energy disruptions. The move was announced following discussions among the Pacific Islands Foru...

The Queensland Government has launched its Queensland-Pacific Trade and Investment Strategy 2026-2028, outlining plans to deepen commercial engagement with Pacific economies and build on more than AUD 9 billion in existing trade links. Led by Trade and Investment Queensland, the strategy positions the state as “Australia’s Pacific State”, citing Queens...

The Australia Papua New Guinea Business Council, the Australia Fiji Business Council and the Australia Pacific Islands Business Council have welcomed the launch of the Queensland-Pacific Trade and Investment Strategy 2026-2029, highlighting the importance of sustained industry engagement in delivering outcomes across the region. Representatives from th...

The Fiji Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has concluded nationwide public consultations on the Draft Tourism Bill 2026, marking a key step toward establishing the country’s first comprehensive tourism legislation. Consultations were conducted across major tourism centres including Suva, Sigatoka, Nadi, Rakiraki, Labasa and Savusavu, with particip...

New Caledonia and Vanuatu are set to be connected by a pioneering underwater telecommunications cable equipped with scientific monitoring technology aimed at improving earthquake and tsunami detection in one of the world’s most seismically active regions. Jeremie Katidjo Monnier, member of the New Caledonian government responsible for the management of...

The Solomon Islands government has repealed the Coconut and Coconut Product Management Fees Regulations 2026 with immediate effect, saying the move is aimed at protecting farmers, supporting exporters and encouraging growth in the country’s coconut industry. The repeal was approved by Acting Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration Manas...