DOMESTIC economic conditions continue the robustness shown last year and most partial indicators for consumption and investment have shown positive growth, says Reserve Bank of Fiji governor Barry Whiteside. He made the comment following RBF’s board meeting on Thursday where it agreed to keep the overnight policy rate unchanged at 0.5 per cent. “This is…
Fiji’s five years of positive economic growth has led to a reduction in the country’s unemployment rate with more people entering the job market. Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Jone Usamate said the figures collected during the 2010-2011 survey shows that unemployment rate has come down to 6.9 per cent from the previous…
Now that LNG exports have started, the nation’s export revenues will grow by some K10 billion to K12 billion (US$3.7 – US$4.4 million) in a full calendar year, Papua New Guinea Treasurer Patrick Pruaitch says. He said these revenue flows would greatly boost PNG’s balance of trade with the inflow of US dollars from LNG…
Lead spokesperson for the forum island countries (FICs) on PACER-Plus Robert Sisilo, has backed the vice-president of the Republic of Kiribati, when she told forum trade ministers meeting in Tarawa last week that PACER-Plus holds much promise for the FICs and they should ensure that the agreement lives up to it’s ideals. In opening the…
Television in Samoa could be going digital by 2017. That’s one of the predictions from a regionally backed workshop that is looking at implications of phasing out analog broadcast signal in the next three years. Regulator Donnie De Freitas said “digital television is coming to Samoa”. “Or rather,” he added “it’s here.” He was referring…
Air New Zealand has signed a deal to purchase 13 next generation Airbus A320s in a move that will cut its fuel use by up to 15 per cent on its trans-Tasman and Pacific Islands flights. The aircraft, with a list price of $NZ1.6 billion, will replace its current fleet of 13 international short-haul A320s.…
Samoa and Tonga are looking at forging closer economic ties with a delegation from the Kingdom in country to hash out details for a bilateral free trade agreement. The Tongan multi-sector delegation, led by the country’s Minister of Agriculture and Food, Forests and Fisheries, Sione Sangster Saulala, met with both government Ministries and private sector…
Negotiations for the long running PACERPLUS agreement may be concluded by the end of the year. That’s according to Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Brett Mason who represented Australia at the Forum Trade Ministers Meeting in Kiribati. Opinion remains divided over the benefits PACERPLUS may bring to the Pacific. Senator Mason is firmly of the…
The Isabel house of chief appeals to all Isabel people to maintain their culture and traditional custom values. The call was made for the second time for this year by the Isabel deputy paramount chief Ambrose H. Bugotu during the celebration of the Isabel second appointed day in Honiara yesterday. He first made the call…
A lifeless body of a young man was found near the western end of Lunga bridge east of Honiara on Monday morning. The dead body was discovered by locals lying in between the tall grasses, ten to twenty meters from the bridge. The finding has shocked residents around the Lunga, Burns Creek area and the…