PINA

World Bank President, Ajay Banga made a historic visit to Tuvalu Friday, becoming the first head of the global financial institution to set foot in the climate-threatened Pacific nation. During his visit, Banga witnessed the acute impacts of climate change and outlined his vision for the World Bank’s role in addressing the crisis. Banga’s journey to Tuvalu is part of a...

The head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis has highlighted Papua New Guinea’s inequality and instability and called for an end to tribal violence during a public speech in the capital Port Moresby. Speaking to government authorities and diplomats and huge crowds of PNG people on Saturday, he also spoke out on women’s equality, fair distribution of wealth from natural...

Seven Pacific Island Countries will maintain uninterrupted access to the global financial system through a new World Bank project to strengthen correspondent banking relationships in the region. The project will benefit Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, and one regional organisation, the Pacific Islands Forum. World Bank Group President Ajay Banga announced the project during...

For the past 13 years, engineer Didier Bule has maintained the machinery at the heart of New Caledonia’s Koniambo nickel plant, a symbol of economic empowerment for the French territory’s indigenous Kanak population. But last weekend, the smelter’s furnaces were switched off – leaving about 1,000 workers at Koniambo Nickel SAS (KNS) out of a job. After years of operating without...

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme’s (SPREP) Fourth Executive Board Meeting held to discuss strategic, programme and governance issues pertaining to the organisation ended on a high in Apia Friday. The three-day meeting held at the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) at the SPREP Campus in Vailima was guided by the theme: “A Resilient Blue Pacific Continent Free...

Fiji booked their place in the Pacific Nations Cup semi-finals on Friday after holding off Tonga to claim a convincing 50-19 win in Nuku'alofa. The visitors finished as Group A winners and will play either Japan or the United States in Tokyo next weekend. Samoa also went through as Group A runners-up to the semis, which will both be played in...

World Bank President, Ajay Banga has urged Fiji to address key challenges in its health sector, calling for improvements in facilities, training, and community health outcomes during his visit to Fiji Banga praised the dedication and talent of Fijian healthcare workers but emphasised the need for targeted investments to overcome the country's health challenges. “You see how dedicated they are, how...

World Bank President Ajay Banga has vowed to accelerate the pace of project approvals, emphasising his commitment to speed and efficiency in addressing the needs of the Pacific region. Speaking to Pacific leaders in Suva, Banga outlined his vision to reduce the time it takes for World Bank-funded projects to move from discussion to approval. “I’m determined that the World Bank...

World Bank President Ajay Banga has pledged robust support for Fiji, focusing on healthcare, climate resilience, and economic diversification to create jobs for young people. “The World Bank is keen to work with Fiji on healthcare, climate resilience, and diversifying the economy. “The goal is to create jobs for young people, keep them in the country, and harness their enthusiasm and...

Cook Islands Prime Minister and former Forum Chair Mark Brown has called for transformational changes to achieve a resilient Pacific, urging Pacific leaders and partners to go beyond incremental solutions and embrace bold reforms to address key regional challenges outlined in the 2050 Strategy. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown laid out his vision for achieving a resilient Pacific, emphasising...