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...

Vanuatu is seeking to elevate its relationship with Hong Kong into a long-term, institutional partnership, following a high-level visit by Prime Minister Jotham Napat Nauka and a senior government delegation. During the visit, the prime minister convened a conference titled Future and Development of Vanuatu–Hong Kong Relationship for 2026 and Beyond, a...

The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has released a new report examining global tuna markets and trade trends in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO), highlighting major shifts in the international tuna industry and their implications for Pacific Island countries and territories. Titled Tuna Markets and Trade Dynamics: Western and C...

In a move to strengthen local resilience, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development on 28 January officially launched Phase 2 of the UNDP-Gov4Res Small Grants Initiative, with financial support from the New Zealand government. Under the initiative, three civil society organisations were each awarded US$13,300 to implement community-based project...

Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Franklyn Derek Wasi has announced ambitious national targets to revitalise the poultry industry in the Solomon Islands. Wasi outlined the targets while delivering opening remarks at a consultation meeting with local poultry farmers, emphasising the ministry’s commitment to addressing key challenges and...

Solomon Islands has been elected as Vice President for the Asia-Pacific Group at the 16th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), recently held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The position was previously held by the UAE during the last Assembly. The Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, Derek Rawcliffe Manu’ar...

The Pacific Sustainable Development Initiative (PSDI) Financing Growth team visited Fiji to assist the Government of Fiji in implementing the Access to Business Funding (A2BF) Act 2025, a groundbreaking legislative framework designed to facilitate innovative financing mechanisms including small offers, peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, and crowdfunding. A si...

The Government of the Cook Islands in Febuary 2026 officially opened the IORIS Foundational and Leadership Training, a comprehensive two-week programme designed to enhance national maritime security capabilities, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and improve information-sharing across government departments. Delivered under the European Union-funde...

Vanuatu has taken a significant step in strengthening its tourism and aviation links with New Zealand, following the announcement of expanded year-round direct services to Port Vila by Solomon Airlines. The Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) has welcomed the development, describing it as a major boost for air connectivity and the national tourism industry. F...