PINA

At the 25 February meeting of the Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed high-level officials’ efforts and leadership to boost their actions to address climate change. The meeting of the coalition, which counts Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Morocco as the newest members, was held at the margins of the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13)...

Vanuatu Members of Parliament (MPs) are expected to receive financial support of up to VT1 million (US$ 8,343) each to strengthen and support the National Referendum 'Yes' campaign. This was confirmed by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Johnny Koanapo, adding that this fund is part of the VT350 million (US$2.9 million) appropriated by Parliament for referendum awareness efforts. Koanapo explained that...

Fiji had the honour of chairing the African, Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) Group Ministerial Meeting on the eve of the 13th World Trade Organisation - WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, SMEs and Communication, Manoa Kamikamica, as Chair of the meeting, facilitated discussions on the ACP’s interests and priorities...

Feleti Teo secured the position of Tuvalu’ new Prime Minister without facing any opposition Monday. He was elected to the Parliament of Tuvalu after the 2024 general election in January. Tuvalu MP Simon Kofe took to Twitter to announce the unprecedented development, expressing congratulations to Feleti Teo. Kofe highlighted that it marked the first instance in Tuvalu's history where a Prime Minister...

By Richard Naidu Leading Pacific tuna industry expert, Dr Transform Aqorau, has drawn from the region’s experiences with its massive tuna fisheries industry to sound caution in the development of the “next frontier” of deep seabed mining. Speaking at the Fiji National University in Suva last week, Dr Aqorau said while the potential for economic benefits from seabed minerals is...

Pacific civil society groups have joined others from around the world in an open letter calling on trade negotiators at this week's World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial to ensure that any outcome on fisheries subsidies targets those fleets most responsible for overfishing, protects small-scale fishers and doesn't stop small-island stated from developing their own fishing fleets. The WTO Ministeral starts...

Op-ed by Bo Li and Marshall Mills Pacific Island countries are renowned the world over for their unique geography, populations, cultures, and way of life. This uniqueness presents myriad opportunities to boost growth and wellbeing. It also exposes these countries to distinctive challenges. For the past three decades, the IMF has been engaged in the Pacific Islands region on...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says the Opposition is more than welcome to attempt a vote of no confidence (VONC) against him when Parliament resumes in May. Parliament rose Thursday and adjourned to May, acting speaker Koni Iguan said the motion of no confidence against Marape did not qualify to be listed on the notice paper. Marape denied that...

Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Dr Filimon Manoni has highlighted the significance of the OACPS as a vital partner for Pacific countries, stressing the importance of effective implementation of the Samoa Agreement. He emphasised the critical global issues facing the Pacific region: climate change and the ocean. “The Samoa Agreement and the Pacific Protocol underscore common interests and priorities with our region, particularly...

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Henry Puna has highlighted the Pacific's important role in the success of the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Geneva in 2022, in his address to the Pacific ACP WTO Trade Minister Meeting this week. He acknowledged the delivery of the Geneva package, including the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, and commended the efforts of the ministers,...