New co-investment fund to boost Fiji’s MSME sector
Business Link Pacific has launched a new Co-Investment Fund to strengthen the capacity of Fiji’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), with a strong focus on sustainability, inclusion, and job creation. The announcement was made during the JuiceIT-2025...
Fiji’s growth outlook for 2025 revised down to 2.7%
Westpac has revised Fiji’s economic growth forecast for 2025, reducing it from an earlier estimate of 3.4 per cent to 2.7 per cent. The downgrade was announced in late April 2025 as part of the bank’s latest economic outlook for the Pacific region. The revision...
Countdown begins for Pacific Infrastructure Conference-2
The countdown has begun for the second Pacific Infrastructure Conference, set to take place from 18-20 August 2025 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event will bring together decision-makers, developers, investors, and community voices from across...
Countdown begins for Pacific Infrastructure Conference-2
The countdown has begun for the second Pacific Infrastructure Conference, set to take place from 18-20 August 2025 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event will bring together decision-makers, developers, investors, and community voices from across...
Pacific economies face compounding global challenges: IMF official
This report is condensed from an interview with Nada Choueiri, Deputy Director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, Washington DC by PACNEWS Senior Journalist Pita Ligaiula. Pacific Island countries (PICs) are grappling with a complex array of economic...
New Caledonia enacts 50-year deep-sea mining ban
New Caledonia has imposed a 50-year ban on deep-sea mining across its entire Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), covering approximately 1.3 million square kilometers. This move positions the French Pacific territory among the most restrictive globally concerning seabed...
Uncertainty grows around Vanuatu’s Airbus payment
Concerns are mounting over the fate of a VT2 billion (US$16.5 million) deposit made by the Vanuatu Government in 2019 for Airbus aircraft that have yet to be delivered. The deal, intended to mark a bold expansion for the national carrier, has become the subject of...
Tuvalu embraces digital banking with ATMs
In April 2025, Tuvalu marked a significant milestone in its financial history by unveiling its first-ever Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). This development signifies a transformative step toward modernizing the country’s banking infrastructure and enhancing financial...
Palau battles crime, corruption and geopolitics
Palau, an island nation of approximately 17,000 residents, has emerged as a focal point in the geopolitical contest between the United States and China. The U.S. maintains critical military infrastructure in Palau, including airstrips and radar installations, making...
PNG taps green finance and petroleum partners at summit
The Green Finance Summit 2025, held from March 24–26 at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby, marked a pivotal moment in Papua New Guinea’s commitment to sustainable economic development. Organised by the Green Finance Centre (GFC) under the auspices of the Bank of Papua...
Minister invites Chinese giant for energy investment
Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Petroleum, Jimmy Maladina, has extended a formal invitation to one of the world’s largest construction and infrastructure firms, the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), to consider investment opportunities in Papua...
Income Tax Act 2025: Key business reforms and implications
Papua New Guinea’s Parliament unanimously passed the long-awaited Income Tax Bill 2025 on 20 March, marking a major milestone in the country’s tax reform agenda. The new Income Tax Act (ITA), effective from 1 January 2026, introduces several structural and...