The Government has reaffirmed its support for locally driven tourism investment following the launch of a new cruise vessel aimed at expanding Fiji’s premium travel offering. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka officiated at the launch of the MV Yasawa Princess II at Port Denarau in Nadi on 26 March, marking...

The Government of New Caledonia has adopted a draft resolution calling on the French State to extend its electricity cost equalisation mechanism to the territory, in a move aimed at easing energy costs and supporting economic recovery. The decision was approved during the Government’s weekly meeting on 25 March, with authorities seeking to include New ...

The Solomon Islands government is stepping up efforts to advance the Bina Harbour development in Malaita, a flagship fisheries project aimed at transforming the country’s tuna industry and capturing greater economic value from its marine resources. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has prioritised the project in the 2026 budget, allocating...

The Vanuatu Tourism Office and Tourism Solomons Office have completed their second online refresher training for 2026 under the Pacific Tourism Data Initiative, a regional programme aimed at strengthening tourism data capabilities across Pacific Island countries. Delivered in partnership with the Pacific Tourism Organisation, the week-long training hel...

Pacific Island countries are stepping up efforts to strengthen private sector development, recognising its central role as the backbone of their economies and a key driver of long-term growth, employment and innovation. The private sector remains the region’s largest employer and a major contributor to productivity, competition and wealth creation. It ...

A new solar energy system is now powering Sir Dudley Tuti College in Isabel Province, improving access to reliable electricity for one of the Solomon Islands’ largest and most remote secondary schools. The installation marks the first Solomon Islands project under the REnew Pacific programme, delivered by local renewable energy provider Superfly. The s...

The board of Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited has visited the Cancer Service Unit at ANGAU Memorial Hospital, where the company has invested more than K20 million to strengthen cancer treatment services. The investment, implemented between 2020 and 2025 under a tripartite agreement with the Morobe Provincial Health Authority and ANGAU, supported the re...

The Pacific Tourism Organisation has graduated 21 participants from its Online Pasifika Cultural Tourism Training programme, marking a step forward in efforts to strengthen cultural tourism across the region. Participants from eight Pacific countries — Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Vanuatu, French Polynesia, Samoa, Solomon Islands and the F...

Newly appointed Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Nestor Giro has signed two funding agreements under the Commercial Agriculture Development Support Project, underscoring the Solomon Islands government’s push to strengthen local agribusinesses. A total of SBD780,000 has been awarded to two enterprises, with Varivao Holdings Limited receivi...

The government of Nauru has welcomed the outcomes of the inaugural North Pacific Aviation Summit in Canberra, agreeing on practical steps to strengthen vital air links across the North Pacific. The summit underscored Nauru’s role in operating the North Pacific Connector (NPC) service, a regional air corridor linking Australia with several North Pacific...

The Fijian government has approved the implementation of a Renewable Hybrid Project (RHP) at Bouwaqa Village in Vatulele, marking a step forward in rural electrification and clean energy deployment. The RHP is a grant-funded pilot initiative supported by the United Kingdom government and implemented by AEON Energy Group. It aims to test the integration...

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele held a bilateral meeting with Anvar Anarbaev, special envoy of the president of the Kyrgyz Republic, at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in Honiara. The meeting marked an important step in strengthening diplomatic relations between Solomon Islands and the Kyrgyz Republic, building on more than a decade of form...

Biosecurity Solomon Islands (BSI), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, successfully conducted its first school awareness program for 2026 at Betikama Adventist College, marking the start of its school outreach activities for the year. The event was officiated by the school’s Head of Department for Agriculture, Mr Kendrick Tango’eha Tahea, ...

 As Papua New Guinea enters a new phase of economic momentum, attention is turning to where business, policy and investment intersect, and, in May 2026, this conversation will take centre stage in Brisbane. The 41st Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum & Trade Expo will convene in Brisbane from 13–15 May 2026, bringing together business leader...

LION One Metals Ltd. has begun upgrading drilling operations at its Tuvatu gold mine in Fiji, as part of a broader push to stabilise production and strengthen long-term performance. The company said it has commenced a significant overhaul of its drill fleet, replacing ageing underground rigs that had exceeded their operational lifespan and constrained ...

The Lasi Tribal Group in Central Guadalcanal has taken a step forward in advancing a proposed protected area in the Upper Tina Catchment, following a two-day consultation facilitated by the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) Project Office and government partners. The consultation, held on Feb. 25–26 at Turaranga Community in Vulolo Ward...