Forum opens with ‘ocean’ as its theme

THE 45th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting opened in Palau, Tuesday, with President Tommy Remengesau underscoring the importance of the ocean, the theme of this year’s meeting. “This meeting provides a unique opportunity for the nations of the region to further the comprehensive approach envisioned by the Oceanscape framework and to taking concrete action to…

Rewards for customers

Bank of South Pacific will launch its Swipe on BSP EFTPoS and Win promotion today in an effort to amplify a smarter way to pay for goods and services. BSP retail banking general manager Ravindra Singh said the promotion, which would run until October 4, encouraged the use of their electronic funds transfer at point…

Single LNG shipment costs about K60m

The  value for each LNG shipment from the country’s PNG LNG Project costs US$50 million (K119.1 million) to US$60 (K143.9 million), National Petroleum Company PNG managing director Wapu Sonk said. So far, ExxonMobil PNG Ltd had shipped 12 LNG cargoes to sell on the spot market to customers in Asia. Sonk said “the shipments of…

New Zealand criticised by Pacific Island leaders

New Zealand needs to listen to Pacific Island leaders when it comes to climate change action, said the Green Party. Discontent with New Zealand and Australia is rife at the 2014 Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ summit which commenced today in Palau.  The Finance Minister of the Cook Islands stated that climate change and frustration at…

NZ says summit key for Pacific Plan review

New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister says this year’s Pacific leaders’ summit is of particular significance as it will include high-level discussions over the future of the Pacific Plan. Murray McCully is in Palau for the 45th Pacific Islands Forum, which officially opens today in the capital Koror.  McCully says the Pacific Plan has a lot…

PACER Plus nearing conclusion, says chief trade adviser

“We are making good progress in the negotiations. Thus far, we have concluded negotiations on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade and customs procedures. We have also made good progress in the negotiations on trade in services and investment,” said Dr Kessie. “We are currently exploring possible landing zones on labour mobility and…

Pacific Forum Leaders bring major fisheries treaty into force — Next step implementation, says FFA

Four years ago they tasked the Forum Fisheries Agency with enhancing cooperation in fisheries surveillance and law enforcement against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.  Today, Pacific Forum leaders celebrated the entry into force of a one-stop multilateral text aimed at achieving that–the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement, or NTSA.  Forum leaders witnessed the handover today…

Rise up to the challenge, Renbel told

Acting Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga has encouraged the people of Rennell and Bellona province (Renbel) to rise up to challenges that hindered development ambitions on the two beautiful islands. He made the call on Tuesday during the celebrations marking the province’s 21st anniversary celebrations on Bellona Island. Renbel Province attained its provincial status in 1993…