PINA

By Pita Ligaiula in Luanda, Angola The post-Cotonou deal between the European Union and the 79-member of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) is at risk and remains unratified, 20 months after been concluded by the EU and ACP negotiators. After several years of negotiations and delays, the pact was initialled in April 2021 by EU Commissioner...

By Pita Ligaiula in Luanda, Angola The Secretary General of the 79 member states of the Organisations of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (OACPS), Georges Rebelo Chikoti is hopeful for a successful summit as leaders gathered Friday for their two- days meeting. Secretary General Chikoti told PACNEWS the 10th summit is taking place at a critical time for the bloc as...

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) is delivering lifesaving aid and supplies across the Pacific as part of Operation Christmas Drop. The annual operation, based out of Guam, reaches more than 20,000 people across more than 50 remote islands throughout the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. RNZAF No. 40 Squadron, with a Hercules C-130 aircraft and...

By Pita Ligaiula in Luanda, Angola The Secretary General of the 79 member states of the Organisations of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (OACPS), Georges Rebelo Chikoti maintains the grouping is still relevant as an organisation after one of its main budget contributors South Africa, left the bloc in September. This week’s 10th Head of State and Government Summit in Luanda,...

By Pita Ligaiula in Luanda, Angola South Africa has exercised her right to withdraw from the Organisations of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (OACPS) says Secretary General, Georges Rebelo Chikoti. South Africa had written to OACPS Secretary General expressing its decision to leave the organisation with immediate effect starting on 02 September this year. The withdrawal brings into question, the relevance of...

By Pita Ligaiula in Luanda, Angola The head of Head of Delegation of the European Union to Angola, Ambassador Jeannette Seppen says Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises play a vital role in most economies, particularly in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. She said the topic of the Business Days “Promoting the Competitiveness of OACPS Small and Medium Enterprises in the...

By Pita Ligaiula in Luanda, Angola The European Union (EU) blacklisting member states of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific (OACPS) has been described as a “fig leaf” exercise. OACPS Secretary General, Georges Rebelo Chikoti told journalists in Luanda, the EU name-and-shame exercise is painful for those countries concerned. “Well, indeed, I think this issue is not only for the...

By Pita Ligaiula in Luanda, Angola The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) recognises private sector as a main development actor,” says Secretary General, Georges Rebelo Chikoti. He was speaking at the ACP Peer-to-Peer Learning Event, funded by the European Union (EU)and World Bank. This is one of the side events of the 10th OACPS Head of States...

By Pita Ligaiula in Luanda, Angola The World Bank says the rising inflation exacerbated by the war in Ukraine are challenging times for the global economy and for developing countries. Speaking at the ACP-EU Business Friendly programme in Luanda, World Bank Country director Albert Zeufack said the economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is set to decelerate from 4.1 percent in 2021...

By Pita Ligaiula in Luanda, Angola The 79 member states of the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) have indicated that it will support Vanuatu’s climate campaign to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to protect the rights of people against the adverse effects of climate change. OACPS Secretary General, Georges Rebelo...