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...
New Zealand multi‑entry visas expand Pacific commerce
Effective 6 July 2025, New Zealand implemented a policy change granting multi-entry Visitor Visas to citizens of all Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) countries –including Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, Niue, Cook Islands, Palau, FSM, and...
Boosting women’s employment could lift Pacific growth: World Bank
A World Bank Pacific Economic Update, widely reported in late July 2025, projects regional GDP growth slowing to 2.6 per cent in 2025 (down from 5.5 per cent in 2023). The Bank highlights that only around 43% of working-age women are employed across island nations,...
AFBC, Investment Fiji launch landmark Trade & Investment Review
In a major milestone for regional business collaboration, the Australia Fiji Business Council (AFBC) and Investment Fiji have jointly launched the Fiji Trade and Investment Review 2025-26: a flagship publication designed to showcase Fiji’s economic potential and guide...
Infrastructure Budget sets stage for climate-ready future
Fiji’s 2025-26 Budget signals a growing alignment between Fiji’s infrastructure priorities and its climate responsibilities. From water and transport to energy and finance, the government is investing in the systems that will underpin a more secure and sustainable...
Fiji, Australia elevate Vuvale partnership
Fiji and Australia have agreed to formally elevate their Vuvale Partnership, with new commitments aimed at strengthening development cooperation, security collaboration, and regional stability. The enhanced partnership was announced during Fijian Prime Minister...