Pacific deep-sea mining moves into sharper focus
A flurry of announcements in August 2025 has reshaped the Pacific’s deep-sea mining landscape, with governments and partners signalling different pathways from exploration to possible extraction. In the Cook Islands, officials said they are considering extending...
Solar desalination distributor named for Australia, NZ, Pacific
Sydney-based Bluemont has secured exclusive distribution rights for Elemental Water Makers’ solar-powered desalination systems across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, expanding the region’s supplier base for off-grid water security solutions. The 18...
Solomon Islands breaks ground on Gold Ridge expansion
The Solomon Islands Government has launched the expansion of the Gold Ridge Mine processing plant, positioning the project as a cornerstone of growth, jobs and exports. At a 13 August ceremony near Honiara, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele called the works the...
Leaders to chart Pacific infrastructure future at PIC2025
The upcoming Pacific Infrastructure Conference in Brisbane (19-20 August) is shaping up to be the most high-powered gathering of its kind, with senior leaders from across the region and beyond confirmed to deliver keynote addresses. The conference brings together...
Fiji green lights nationwide 5G deployment
Fiji has officially approved the rollout of 5G mobile networks, a development anticipated to usher in faster speeds, lower latency and broader digital innovation. This authorisation marks a significant leap in the country’s tech infrastructure and its digital...
Leaders to chart Pacific infrastructure future at PIC2025
The upcoming Pacific Infrastructure Conference in Brisbane (19-20 August) is shaping up to be the most high-powered gathering of its kind, with senior leaders from across the region and beyond confirmed to deliver keynote addresses. The conference brings together...
New SEZ policy to drive long‑term development
Papua New Guinea has announced its much‑anticipated 2025 to 2032 Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Foundation Policy, positioning it as a central feature of its long‑term economic development strategy. The policy was officially introduced at a high‑profile ceremony held at...
Leaders to chart Pacific infrastructure future at PIC2025
The upcoming Pacific Infrastructure Conference in Brisbane (19-20 August) is shaping up to be the most high-powered gathering of its kind, with senior leaders from across the region and beyond confirmed to deliver keynote addresses. The conference brings together...
New era of connectivity as East Micronesia Cable lands in Kiribati
The arrival of the East Micronesia Cable in South Tarawa has marked a major milestone in Kiribati’s digital development journey, with the undersea telecommunications cable set to transform connectivity across the island nation. The project represents the first-ever...
Vanuatu revives VT 2b Airbus A220 deal
Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat returned from France last month affirming the revival of a long‑stalled VT 2 billion Airbus A220 procurement –a deal first struck in February 2019 as part of a planned fleet expansion of the troubled national airline,...
Tuvalu’s tuna revenue declines amid warming seas
Multiple reports have highlighted a sharp decline in Tuvalu’s tuna licensing revenue, down roughly 40 per cent over five years, as warming oceans shift tuna stocks into international waters. Tuna licenses account for roughly 60 per cent of Tuvalu’s locally generated...
Regional contingency exercise opens doors for Pacific businesses
From 10 July to 8 August 2025, the United States Pacific Air Forces conducted Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC)—the largest contingency response exercise ever undertaken in the region. Spanning over 50 locations including Guam, Hawai‘i, Japan, and international...