PACNEWS TWO, 20 OCTOBER 2026

VAN – POLITICS: RNZ PACIFIC/VBTC           PACNEWS 2: Tue 20 Oct 2026

Vanuatu PM says government remains stable amid leadership challenge claims

PORT VILA, 20 OCTOBER 2026 (VBTC)—Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat has shut down claims that he could be facing a leadership challenge through a no-confidence vote at the next parliamentary sitting in two weeks’ time.

Local media reported last week, citing politicians speaking on the condition of anonymity, that a move was being planned behind the scenes to oust Napat.

However, Napat told the state broadcaster VBTC on Monday that his coalition still commands that majority and assured Ni-Vanautu people of government stability.

Vanuatu’s opposition leader Ishmael Kalsakau has also told RNZ Pacific that “there is no motion” planned against the prime minister.

Napat, who was elected as the country’s new prime minister in February 2025, is the country’s fifth prime minister in as many years and leads a coalition government made up of five political parties.

Napat has already faced and defeated a no-confidence motion in December last year.

According to the Vanuatu Daily Post, no formal motion has been confirmed as lodged with the Speaker’s Office or the clerk of parliament.

However, the newspaper said politicians continue lobbying behind the scenes to secure the numbers to challenge Napat.

“Currently, the government commands the majority of members of parliament,” Napat told VBTC….PACNEWS

PACIFIC – TRAFFICKING: PMN                     PACNEWS 2: Thu 15 Oct 2026

Washington warnings mount as four Pacific nations risk loss of US aid

WASHINGTON, 20 OCTOBER 2026 (PMN)—Four Pacific nations are facing an urgent wake-up call over forced labour and sex trafficking across their logging, fishing, and foreign-owned industries.

Washington is warning that failure to clean up local operations could trigger a freeze on foreign assistance from the United States.

The warning follows the release of the U.S Department of State’s latest Trafficking in Persons report, which kept Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and the Marshall Islands on its “Tier 2 Watch List”.

While Washington acknowledged that Pacific governments are trying to tackle the issue, the region continues to fall short of minimum international standards to eliminate human trafficking.

Under U.S law, nations stuck on the watch list face an automatic downgrade to Tier 3, a classification that allows the US government to restrict non-humanitarian and non-trade-related funding.

At the heart of the problem is widespread exploitation hidden deep inside remote communities and out at sea.

The U.S report singled out logging camps, commercial fishing vessels, and foreign-owned operations as major hotspots for forced labour and sex trafficking.

U.S State Department spokesman Thomas Pigott highlighted the severe standards governments must meet, saying countries are placed on the watch list when “the absolute number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is significant or significantly increasing” or when “there is a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from the previous year” or where compliance determinations rely on “commitments by the country to take additional specified steps over the coming year.”

Addressing the recent Pre-COP31 dialogue in Nadi, former Fiji Ambassador to the United Nations and regional diplomat Dr Satyendra Prasad emphasised that small island states need practical capacity and systemic support to manage compliance and protect vulnerable citizens rather than simply being subjected to international rankings.

“This time the Pacific did not turn up as spectators – not as communities to be piloted upon but as drivers who were framing, leading, implementing and learning as they did so.”

Ambassador Prasad’s comments reflect a growing sentiment across the Blue Pacific that while regional governments acknowledge the severity of human trafficking, rigid international mechanisms often fail to account for severe resource gaps, geographical isolation, and vast ocean borders.

As the U.S report itself states: “Limited law enforcement resources, geographic isolation, lack of dedicated victim support services, and low prosecution rates continue to hamper effective anti-trafficking efforts in small island states.”

With international scrutiny sharpening, the report urges Pacific governments to urgently tighten local laws, train police and border guards to spot victims, and bring human traffickers to court.

For regional leaders, the pressure is now on to turn policy commitments into real convictions before the threat of US funding cuts becomes a reality…..PACNEWS

FIJI – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: PACNEWS        PACNEWS 2: Tue 20 Oct 2026

SODELPA questions Fiji Parliament’s proposed powers over Great Council of Chiefs

SUVA, 20 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)– Fiji’s Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) is demanding answers over proposed constitutional changes that it says could give Parliament greater control over the membership and funding of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga (BLV), or Great Council of Chiefs (GCC).

The party has called on the Parliamentary Special Select Committee reviewing the draft Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026, Bill No. 32, to explain the implications of provisions in Section 152 before the proposed changes proceed.

SODELPA is particularly concerned about Section 152(3), which states that Parliament must provide by written law for the membership of the BLV and may legislate on other matters, including its funding and operations.

The party questioned whether the provision would allow a government with a parliamentary majority to determine how chiefs are selected and who qualifies for membership of the council.

“Does this clause mean that Parliament — and politicians holding a simple 51 per cent majority — will now determine who gets to sit on the BLV, how members are selected, and who qualifies as a traditional leader?” SODELPA asked.

The party also questioned whether ordinary legislation could be used to change the council’s membership without a constitutional amendment.

It called on the committee to explain why the representation of Fiji’s 14 provinces, Rotuma and paramount chiefs had not been explicitly protected in Chapter 8 of the proposed constitutional amendments.

SODELPA said the provisions raised concerns about the relationship between parliamentary authority and customary chiefly leadership.

The party also raised concerns about Section 152(4), which states that the State must provide or facilitate adequate funding for the BLV, upon request, subject to available resources.

It questioned whether the funding provision could leave the council financially dependent on government decisions.

“Why is the government refusing to grant the BLV a direct, standing constitutional appropriation from the Consolidated Fund — like the judiciary?” the party asked.

SODELPA said the committee should clarify how the funding arrangement would protect the council’s independence and ensure it could carry out its constitutional functions.

The party also questioned whether the proposed amendments contained sufficient safeguards for iTaukei land, qoliqoli and subsurface mineral rights, particularly if legislation affecting those interests was introduced without a direct veto mechanism for the BLV.

On public consultation, SODELPA criticised the 30-day period for submissions, arguing that provincial councils, tikina and traditional leaders needed sufficient time to examine the proposed changes.

It called for an extension of the consultation period, saying the public needed an opportunity to understand the legal implications of the proposed amendments.

The party has urged the select committee, its chairman and members of the BLV to address its questions publicly and explain how the proposed provisions would affect the council’s membership, funding and role.

SODELPA warned that without clear answers and safeguards, the proposed changes could weaken the independence of traditional leadership.

The party said it would continue to defend the role of Fiji’s chiefs and oppose changes it considers could compromise their authority….PACNEWS

FIJI – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: FIJI SUN    PACNEWS 2: Tue 20 Oct 2026

Great Council of Chief backs inclusive Fiji constitutional review

SUVA, 20 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—The Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) says Fiji’s constitutional review must be guided by the law, public consultation and democratic principles as the country approaches the 2026 General Election.

GCC chairman Ratu Viliame Seruvakula said the process had involved parliamentary debate, Supreme Court guidance and nationwide consultations, rather than being rushed.

“A constitution belongs to the people. Therefore, any discussion concerning its future must allow the people to be informed, consulted and heard,” he said.

The Coalition Government introduced the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2025 in Parliament, seeking changes to the requirements for constitutional amendments, including parliamentary support thresholds and referendum provisions.

The Bill failed to secure the required three-quarters support in Parliament on March 11, 2025, with 40 members voting in favour and 14 against, falling one vote short of the threshold.

Cabinet subsequently referred questions about the amendment provisions to the Supreme Court, which delivered its advisory opinion on August 29, 2025.

An independent Constitution Review Commission was established in 2026 to gather public views through consultations, workshops and written submissions from communities and organisations nationwide.

The commission submitted its report and draft constitutional proposals to the President in August 2026, before the report was tabled in Parliament for consideration.

Ratu Viliame said constitutional reform should strengthen democracy and national unity rather than divide the country.

“Constitutional reform should not divide us. Rather, it should provide an opportunity to strengthen our democracy, reinforce national unity and ensure that the supreme law of the land reflects the aspirations of present and future generations,” he said.

He said the Bose Levu Vakaturaga remained committed to an inclusive, transparent and lawful process guided by the collective interests of all Fijians….PACNEWS

PAC – UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR: PACNEWS      PACNEWS 2: Tue 20 Oct 2026

Tuvalu Governor-General becomes USP’s 34th Chancellor

NUKU’ALOFA, 20 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—Tuvalu Governor-General Temukisa Auina Penehuro Hauma has been installed as the 34th Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific (USP), bringing her journey from university graduate to the institution’s ceremonial head.

Hauma’s installation took place during her first official overseas visit in her capacity as Chancellor, which included attending the USP Tonga Campus graduation ceremony.

USP Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council, Siosiua Utoikamanu, said Hauma’s appointment reflected the role education could play in preparing Pacific people for leadership and service.

A USP graduate, Hauma spent more than three decades working in education and community leadership before becoming Tuvalu’s Governor-General and now Chancellor of the regional university.

“One USP graduate has become Chancellor of her University. Another generation leaves this ceremony ready to discover what their own education will make possible,” Utoikamanu said.

He said USP had a responsibility to prepare Pacific graduates not only to participate in the global community but also to contribute to it.

“A Pacific university should therefore do more than prepare Pacific people to participate successfully in the world. It should enable Pacific people to contribute confidently to it,” he said.

Hauma’s appointment strengthens Tuvalu’s ties with USP, which serves 12 member countries across the Pacific.

Her predecessor, Reverend Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani, attended the university’s September graduation ceremony at its Laucala Campus in Fiji, where Tuvaluan students were among those graduating.

During her visit to Tonga, Hauma and her delegation were also hosted by the Tuvalu community living in the Kingdom….PACNEWS

PAC – EDUCATION/UNIVERSITY: USP           PACNEWS 2: Tue 20 Oct 2026

A Pacific education should expand what is possible, says USP Pro-Chancellor

NUKU’ALOFA, 20 OCTOBER 2026 (USP)—A university’s greatest contribution is not measured by its campuses or classrooms, but by what its graduates go on to make possible for others.

The University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council and the Interim Management Group (IMG),Siosiua Utoikamanu, delivered this message to graduates at the USP Tonga Campus Graduation Ceremony.

Addressing graduates, the Pro-Chancellor challenged them to see their qualifications as more than personal achievements, urging them to use their knowledge, skills and experiences to strengthen communities, create opportunities and contribute confidently to the future of the Pacific.

“The significance of a life is not found in the title attached to it, but in what becomes possible for others because of what we chose to do,” he said.

His message was reinforced by a significant moment in the University’s history, as Temukisa Auina Penehuro Hauma was installed as USP’s 34th Chancellor. A graduate of USP, she went on to devote more than three decades to education and community leadership before becoming Governor-General of Tuvalu and now Chancellor of her university.

Her journey, the Pro-Chancellor said, demonstrates how far an education can take a person, often beyond what they could have imagined when they first began their studies.

“One USP graduate has become Chancellor of her University. Another generation leaves this ceremony ready to discover what their own education will make possible.”

For the graduating class, he said, the significance of their education would emerge over time, through the judgement they exercise, the problems they help solve, the opportunities they create and their contribution to the lives of others.

He emphasised that leadership was not confined to those holding senior positions or public office. It was equally evident in the teacher who changes a child’s future, the entrepreneur who creates employment, the researcher who advances knowledge and the public servant who improves services for communities.

This understanding of leadership, he said, was particularly important for graduates of a Pacific university, whose knowledge and contributions could help shape their own communities and influence the wider world.

“The Pacific also has something to teach the world.”

He said the region’s knowledge of the ocean and environment, its languages and cultures, and its traditions of community and collective responsibility were valuable sources of knowledge. Alongside these traditions, Pacific scholars, scientists, professionals and communities continued to generate new knowledge to address contemporary challenges.

“A Pacific university should therefore do more than prepare Pacific people to participate successfully in the world. It should enable Pacific people to contribute confidently to it.”

The Pro-Chancellor said USP’s relationship with Tonga reflected this wider regional purpose. Tonga had helped shape the University from its earliest days through its leaders, scholars, staff, students, graduates and communities, while the University had become part of the country’s educational and social development.

He encouraged graduates to carry their cultural identity, knowledge and community connections with them, wherever their careers might lead, and to approach the future with confidence and an openness to learning.

With technology transforming professions and countries facing challenges that could not yet be fully anticipated, he said, graduates would need to think critically, question assumptions, distinguish what matters and develop the confidence to address unfamiliar problems.

“One of the greatest things a university can give you is not an answer for every problem you will encounter. The capacity to face a problem for which there is no answer yet.”

He urged graduates to remain curious about the opportunities ahead and resist placing unnecessary limits on their ambitions or contributions…PACNEWS

PNG – YOUTHS: THE NATIONAL                   PACNEWS 2: Tue 20 Oct 2026

‘Youth time bomb’ a worry:  PNG MP Sir Puka Temu

PORT MORESBY, 20 OCTOBER 2206 (THE NATIONAL) —The population has a “time bomb” of restless young people who need to be given attention sooner rather than later, says Abau MP Sir Puka Temu.

Sir Puka told Parliament on Friday that the 2024 census recorded more than four million persons under the age of 18 out of the 10 million-plus population count.

“I am of the strong opinion that this Government, since 2019, has only done little about this youth issue,” he said.

“And my way of looking at this issue is that this time bomb is no longer coming — it is here already.

“The census summary acknowledges that 60 per cent of our population is under 25 years, and what has been affecting us as a country is this youth bulge and bursting unemployment.

“I want to ask the Government today and the new government that will come after the election that we must look seriously into how we can address this huge population of young people.”

Sir Puka also raised concern about the education system being unable to cater for the increasing population, as more than 30,000 students sit their Grade 12 examinations annually, but only half get into universities.

“Today, they are sitting their exams.

“When they submit their applications for universities or colleges, only 49 per cent will miss out on spaces in our tertiary education institutions,” he added.

“The census already shows that 50,000 youths in the National Capital District are without jobs, with more than two million unemployed around the country. This will add to the youth time bomb that is already here.

“And with nothing to do, they can form rascal groups that will lead to more problems in urban areas, and we have seen that they are now moving into the rural areas.

“The Government is failing to focus on this important group of the population that make up a big number of people in the country that must be helped,” Sir Puka said.

He called for a stronger implementation of policies and plans that can support the youth population to contribute to socio-economic development of the country……PACNEWS

VAN – SOLAR ENERGY: PACNEWS              PACNEWS 2: Tue 20 Oct 2026

Vanuatu invests VT1 billion in five solar mini-grids on Malekula

PORT VILA, 20 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Vanuatu has commissioned five solar mini-grid projects on Malekula, funded entirely by the government at a cost of about 1 billion vatu(US$8,371,308), to expand electricity access in rural communities.

Minister for Climate Change Ralph Regenvanu led a delegation to launch the projects at Akhamb, Farun, Maskelyne, Lamap and Rensarie last week.

The government said the projects marked a milestone for Vanuatu and Malampa Province, as the first solar mini-grids fully funded by the national government.

Regenvanu thanked successive governments, former ministers and members of Parliament who had supported the projects since 2019.

He also acknowledged the Department of Energy, its director Matthew Tasale, contractors Trama Tecno Ambiental and the SINOSOAR Consortium, and communities that contributed labour and food during construction.

The minister urged residents to use the new electricity services to improve their livelihoods, saying reliable power could support further development in rural areas.

The projects include solar generation equipment with a combined reported capacity of 134.56 kilowatts, standby generators and street lighting.

Contractors signed agreements with the government to formally hand over the assets, with a one-month transition period.

The Lamap mini-grid in South Malekula is expected to supply 218 households, 43 businesses and 15 institutions, including the local mini-hospital and schools.

The launch delegation included Malekula MPs Alick Terry, Paul Paulo, Anatole Hymak and Jones Nimbwen, Malampa Province President Jeppy Talo and other provincial officials.

Representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Utilities Regulatory Authority, the Vanuatu National Power and Water Authority and the Department of Communications and Digital Transformation also attended.

Regenvanu recognised the contribution of landowners, men, women and young people who helped deliver the projects, describing their involvement as an example of cooperation between communities, government and project partners.

The government is also planning road improvements in South Malekula, with the project expected to progress during the next parliamentary session….PACNEWS

UN – CLIMATE CHANGE: UNFCCC             PACNEWS 2: Tue 20 Oct 2026

First 100 transparency report reviews conducted under the Paris Agreement

BONN, 20 OCTOBER 2026 (UNFCCC)— UN Climate Change has conducted 100 technical expert reviews of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) under the Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), marking a milestone in the first cycle of reviews launched in 2024. 

The milestone was reached last week with the conclusion of the in-country reviews for the first BTRs of Romania and Mongolia.

The 100 reviews have involved Parties across all regions and a wide range of national circumstances, including least developed countries and small island developing States.

Beyond the numbers, the first 100 reviews represent extensive technical collaboration among international review teams, national experts and institutions. Through facilitative technical dialogue and written exchanges, the reviews have helped Parties strengthen reporting systems, improve data quality, identify areas for improvement and better understand ETF requirements.

“BTR reviews are more than a technical exercise. When Parties undergo the review, they gain an objective assessment of their national information, they understand better their progress, and they can identify opportunities for improvement,” said Xuehong Wang, Director of Transparency at UN Climate Change. “This can build confidence for more ambitious climate action and strengthen the evidence base for policymaking. This is how transparency becomes a driver of climate action and progress.”

The milestone reflects the commitment of Parties and experts to advancing transparency despite complex reporting requirements and significant resource constraints. Centralized, regional and in-country reviews have provided flexibility in meeting growing demand for review services, while ensuring consistency and quality.

Experience from the first 100 reviews is informing efforts to improve review planning, tools and guidance, strengthen expert training and increase efficiency while maintaining the technical standards required under the Paris Agreement. These lessons will help shape preparations for the next cycle of BTR reviews.

Partnerships have been essential to this progress. Hundreds of experts, support from Parties, partner organisations and donor funding have helped make reviews possible and enabled capacity-building activities worldwide.

Attention is now turning to the next reporting cycle. Parties are due to submit their second BTRs by 31 December 2026.

The experience gained during the first review cycle will help the ETF continue to evolve as a robust framework for tracking progress in implementing the Paris Agreement and strengthening trust among Parties….PACNEWS

PACNEWS BIZ

COOKS – DEEP SEA MINING: TE IPUKAREA SOCIETY PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 20 Oct 2026

U.S seabed mining bid raises concerns for Cook Islands

RAROTONGA, 20 OCTOBER 2026 (TE IPUKAREA SOCIETY) —A new attempt to authorise deep-seabed mining through United States domestic law could have far-reaching consequences for international ocean governance, Pacific states and the Cook Islands.

The Metals Company USA, known as TMC USA, has submitted an application to the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), for an exploration licence and commercial mining permit in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, an area of the Pacific Ocean between Hawai’i and Mexico.

The application covers a proposed commercial recovery area of approximately 65,000 square kilometres; that’s an area of ocean roughly 1000 times the size of Rarotonga. NOAA has determined that its application meets the information requirements to proceed through the assessment process, but it has not approved an exploration licence or commercial mining permit. A 60-day public consultation is open until 19 October 2026.

The process is taking place under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA), a largely dormant 1980 law creating a domestic system for U.S entities seeking to explore for and recover hard minerals beyond national jurisdiction.

NOAA revised its regulations in January 2026 to allow eligible applicants to seek an exploration licence and commercial mining permit through a consolidated process.  

This is significant because TMC USA is seeking authorisation through a unilateral United States process rather than through the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the institution established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to control mineral activities in the international seabed.

Under UNCLOS, the seabed and its mineral resources beyond national exclusive economic zones (EEZ) waters are recognised as the common heritage of humankind. Decisions concerning these shared resources are intended to be made collectively by the member countries of the ISA, rather than determined by one country or private company.

Te Ipukarea Society Director Alanna Smith said approving the application would undermine collective rights and set a dangerous precedent for small island states.

“Although a United States permit would not directly remove the Cook Islands’ sovereign rights within our own EEZ, it could weaken the international rules-based system that helps protect those rights,” Smith said.

“Collective processes under the ISA give smaller states a voice in decisions affecting the global ocean commons. If powerful states and private companies can bypass these processes, Pacific peoples risk being excluded from decisions that may affect our ocean, livelihoods and future generations.”

The environmental implications also cannot be confined to lines drawn on a map. The ocean is interconnected, and sediment plumes, underwater noise, habitat destruction and disruption to marine ecosystems may extend beyond a proposed mining area or affect migratory species and wider food webs.

During NOAA’s virtual public hearing on 13 October, Te Ipukarea Society President June Hosking and Kelvin Passfield delivered oral statements opposing TMC USA’s application on behalf of Ocean Ancestors, a collective comprising Te Ipukarea Society, Kōrero o te ‘Ōrau and Ocean Toa.

Hosking told NOAA that Pacific peoples understand the ocean as the foundation of life and have a responsibility to safeguard it.

“As Pacific people, we recognise that ocean life is our life and, as guardians, we advocate for the health and wellbeing of our environment and all-kind, not just humankind,” Hosking said.

Their statements highlighted the risks of authorising commercial extraction before scientists adequately understand deep-sea species, microbial communities, ecological connections and recovery times. Polymetallic nodules form over millions of years, meaning their removal cannot credibly be described as sustainable on human timescales.

These developments are directly relevant to the Cook Islands, which remains at the exploration stage within its own EEZ. Exploration is not commercial mining, but it assesses the potential for future extraction. Approval could normalise the industry before its environmental, legal, cultural and economic risks are understood, while increasing pressure on Pacific countries to move towards exploitation.

“Decisions about our shared ocean must not be driven by an international race to mine or the interests of private companies,” Smith said. “They must be based on independent science, transparent economic information, meaningful public participation and a genuine ability to say no.”

Given the unresolved risks, Te Ipukarea Society maintains that deep-seabed mining should not proceed and supports calls for a global moratorium or precautionary pause…..PACNEWS

FIJI – AGRICULTURE: PTI AUSTRALIA           PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 20 Oct 2026

Industry Story: Fijian Agribusinesses prepare for Australian market opportunities

SUVA, 20 OCTOBER 2026 (PTI AUSTRALIA)—Agriculture is one of the Pacific’s most important sectors, supporting livelihoods, food security and economic growth across the region.

Yet despite certain Pacific agricultural products almost tripling in value within the Australian market, significant opportunities remain for Pacific agricultural businesses to expand their presence in Australia, as found in PTI’s latest Pacific Islands Export Survey 2026 – Agriculture Industry Spotlight.

The report highlights both the opportunities and barriers facing Pacific agricultural exporters. Identifying those challenges is only the first step. Equipping businesses with the skills and systems needed to overcome them is where targeted support can make the greatest difference.

Last month marked the beginning of the Fiji Agri-Business Export Accelerator for the Australian market, a five-month immersive programme designed by Market Development Facility (MDF) and the Fiji-Australia Business Council (FABC), facilitated by The Forge Pacific and supported by Investment Fiji and PTI Australia.

The programme helps selected Fijian agricultural businesses strengthen their offerings in preparation for the Australian market, with a multiphase program that closely mirrors the specific challenges found in the Agriculture Spotlight.

Improving market readiness and compliance

One of the key takeaways from the Agriculture Spotlight was that just 38 percent of agricultural businesses currently export to Australia, while 64 percent plan to target the Australian market in the next three years. The Agri-Business Accelerator supports this ambition with phases of the program dedicated to market readiness and understanding compliance processes.

PTI Australia’s own export specialists Jeremy Grennell and Maeva O’Donnell contributed to one-on-one sessions covering Australian consumer preferences and associated product development and branding, while workshops on certification, labelling standards and quality management covered essential compliance steps businesses must take. Beginning with these fundamentals means that by the time products are ready for export, they are ideally set up for smooth entry into the Australian market.

Financial management designed for success

With 84 percent of Pacific agricultural businesses reporting difficulty accessing finance, even getting to the product development and marketing stage can be a long road.

The Agri-Business Accelerator addresses this with a phase on financial viability and funding readiness. In this phase, set to commence next month, participants will learn about costing, pricing and margin design and handling international payments.

Exporting internationally is increasingly the goal for Pacific agricultural businesses, with only 29 percent generating revenue within the Pacific region itself. Yet broader horizons bring increased financial complexity and risk, so it is paramount that businesses understand the due diligence needed to enter the Australian market in a financially stable and sustainable way.

Understanding and strengthening logistics pathways

Supply chain and logistics hurdles are common for Pacific agricultural businesses, with 75 percent pointing to it as a core challenge and over half noting that this issue spans both domestic and international legs. The Agri-Business Accelerator supports participants to reduce these risks with a dedicated phase covering export freight, storage solutions, customs requirements and human resource management.

Agricultural businesses, by their very nature, require multifaceted logistics systems that support production, refinement, packaging and export distribution. With these pathways spanning so many steps, however, businesses can easily encounter bottlenecks. Understanding and strengthening the supply chain as a whole supports Pacific agricultural businesses to avoid these risks.

Future of Pacific agriculture in Australia

With Australian consumer preferences leaning towards quality products that tell an authentic story, Pacific agricultural businesses are in a great position to leverage this trend and succeed in the Australian market.

However, customer demand isn’t the only marker of success, Pacific businesses must position their products effectively, understand the financial and compliance frameworks they’ll operate in and reduce logistics risks throughout their supply chain.

Australia represents a significant growth opportunity for Pacific agricultural businesses, but entering the market requires more than demand alone. By helping businesses strengthen their market readiness, financial capability and export systems, the Fiji Agri-Business Export Accelerator aims to equip participants with the practical tools needed to compete and grow in one of the region’s most important export markets….PACNEWS

PAC – TOURISM INDUSTRY: PTI AUSTRALIA PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 20 Oct 2026

Connecting North Pacific Tourism to International Markets:PTI Australia

SYDNEY, 20 OCTOBER 2206 (PTI AUSTRALIA) —Tourism is one of the Pacific’s most internationally connected industries and has recorded some of the strongest export growth in recent years.

Yet areas in the North Pacific that offer world-class niche tourism experiences can often be overlooked due to existing market access barriers.

To address these barriers, Pacific Trade Invest (Australia) has launched the North Pacific Tourism Market Access Program (NP-TMAP), funded by the Australian Government’s Australia-Pacific Partnerships for Aviation (P4A) programme.

The programme is designed to turn existing and emerging air links into tourism opportunities across Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Naoero. These countries, while rich in tourism offerings, often face challenges because many experiences are not yet packaged, priced or distributed through the channels international travellers use to research and book travel. As a result, they can be overlooked in favour of easier-to-book alternatives.

So how does the NP-TMAP address this?

*The programne focuses on a simple challenge: helping North Pacific tourism experiences reach the international travellers already looking for them. By improving market readiness, developing bookable products and strengthening distribution pathways, NP-TMAP aims to help more tourism businesses connect with specialist international markets. The program delivers support across four key areas:

*Improving market readiness

Working directly with tourism operators to strengthen pricing, packaging and product development, complemented by operator visits and practical workshops.

*Developing bookable tourism products

Creating themed itineraries and travel packages built around the North Pacific’s competitive strengths, including diving, fishing, surfing, culture, adventure and World War II heritage.

*Connecting businesses to international buyers

Introducing tourism operators to specialist wholesalers, niche tour operators and distribution partners that can help bring North Pacific products to market.

*Making the region easier to discover and book

Strengthening digital presence, booking pathways and trade tools so that travel partners can more effectively promote and sell North Pacific experiences.

Together, these activities aim to increase the number of North Pacific tourism products available through international distribution channels, making the region easier for specialist travellers to discover, book and access.

Programme lead Ben Urquhart says it aims to have a direct and measurable impact – “Through NP-TMAP we expect more North Pacific tourism products to reach international markets, making the region easier to book and helping drive increased visitor demand across the region.”

The region’s World War II heritage shows what’s possible. “You can dive the wrecks of Chuuk Lagoon, walk the battlefields of Peleliu and Tarawa, and connect it all in one journey. That’s the kind of product international travellers are looking for, and we want to help operators bring it to market.”

The programme leverages existing and emerging air services including Nauru Airlines, United Airlines, Fiji Airways and the proposed North Pacific Connector; as well as smaller more regional aviation partners such as Air Marshall Islands, Air Kiribati and FSM-based Pacific Mission Aviation. In the last two months Qantas has committed to double its Palau Paradise Express services over the 2026 peak season and Nauru Airlines have reconnected with Pohnpei, signalling a growth in market demand.

The NP-TMAP is the first of its kind run by PTI Australia and will be delivered over 18 months.

The programme also responds directly to findings from The Pacific Islands Export Survey 2026 – Tourism Industry Spotlight, jointly published by Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Network and Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), which point to an industry primed for continued international growth but constrained by limited flight connectivity.

Growing traveller demand and improving regional air connectivity have created a timely opportunity for North Pacific tourism businesses to access international markets. International travellers are increasingly seeking out unique sustainable and off the beaten track tourism experiences, and the North Pacific has the means to deliver. 

The opportunity is not to create new tourism experiences, but to make existing North Pacific experiences easier for international travellers to find, book and access. NP-TMAP is designed to help bridge that gap….PACNEWS

PACNEWS DIGEST

The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS

Armenian PM tells global community we have no more time to wait in battle to halt biodiversity loss

YEREVAN, 20 OCTOBER 2026 (SPREP)—“May this be the moment when we move from words to action and fragmentation to collaboration this means taking action for nature,” stated Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia as he opened the Seventeenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Held in Yerevan, Armenia from 19 to 30 October, Armenia celebrated the opening of COP17 with 195 countries, intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, indigenous groups and local communities and members of the private sector setting the scene for the negotiations ahead.

Armenia’s Prime Minister reminded all that COP17 is the first opportunity to assess global progress towards achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) that guides global action to halt and reverse nature and biodiversity loss since it came into being.

“We are uniting the efforts of the international community and direct them towards practical and tangible results. Our goal is to assess the implementation of existing commitments, create new opportunities for cooperation and make the contribution of each country and each partner more effective for the conservation and restoration of biodiversity,” stated H.E Pashinyan.

“The journey to 2030 has begun, we have no more time to wait.”

The special opening event was held the night before day one of COP17, welcoming all delegates to Armenia with messages of encouragement, traditional performances, and a reminder as to why the global community has united. 

Turtle

About the GBF

The GBF came into being in 2022 with the mission to take urgent action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss to put nature on a path to recovery by 2030. 

Biodiversity is  all living things including all living organisms.

The 205 vision of the GBF is a world living in harmony with nature and to achieve this there are four goals that span resilience of ecosystems while halting human-induced extinctions of known threatened species, to value and maintain natures contributions to people, sharing of both monetary and non-monetary benefits from using genetic resources fairly and equitably and, to ensure adequate means of implementation including financial resources.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) has 23 action-oriented global targets for urgent action over the decade to 2030. These are grouped into three key areas, those being Reducing threats to biodiversity, Meeting people’s needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing and Tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming.

Amplifying our Pacific Voice at COP17

Fourteen Pacific Islands are Parties to the CBD COP17, now in Yerevan Armenia, to engage in the global negotiations. Working together to amplify the Pacific voice, and ensuring Pacific needs are reflected in the assessment and pathways forward, our island region supports the theme of CBD COP17 – Taking Action for Nature.

The Pacific Islands region has demonstrated global leadership in halting and reversing biodiversity loss. Over 70 Pacific Islands delegates are in Yerevan to amplify Pacific progress achieved under the GBF, as well as to ensure support is provided to help our islands region to achieve the 2030 targets.

“This is very important for Pacific Island States,” said Josef Jurutarau of the Solomon Islands.

“We want to ensure that there are enough resources allocated, and a simplified process for us to be able to access funding. We live in the world’s largest ocean, with some of the most unique biodiversity in the world. We want to maintain this position; we want to ensure that at this meeting there are enough resources shared with us for our Pacific Islands to continue actively implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework.”

Performers

The CBD COP17 opening event started and ended with a showcase of Armenian cultural performances to welcome all delegates.  Also to speak during the special event held on 18 October, was Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Hambardzum Matevosyan, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Armenia, who also the President of COP17, Ms Astrid Schomaker the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) and David Olarte Amaya, Deputy Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development for Colombia.

The Seventeenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) is held in Yerevan, Armenia from 19 to 30 October 2026. The Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu are Pacific Island Parties to the CBD….PACNEWS 

For more information please visit: https://www.cop17yerevangreenzone.com/about-cop17

PACNEWS DIGEST

The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS

Opinion Piece: A wider role for Pacific food diplomacy beyond trade promotion

By Glynis Miller, PTI New Zealand Trade Commissioner

AUCKLAND, 20 OCTOBER 2026 (PTI NZ)—Food has always been part of diplomacy, yet we haven’t framed it as such. It is used to welcome, to build relationships and to express culture. Countries such as Thailand, Japan, South Korea and Peru have gone further, using cuisine and food culture deliberately to strengthen their international profile. This has often been described as gastrodiplomacy.

For the Pacific, however, there may be an opportunity to think more broadly.

The Pacific already has extensive food governance. Governments, regional agencies, development partners and international organisations are involved in agriculture, fisheries, food safety, nutrition, biosecurity, climate resilience, trade and market access.

Food diplomacy would not replace any of this. It would add another dimension: the deliberate use of dialogue, relationships and collective influence to shape how those systems develop.

A useful distinction is that food governance establishes the rules and structures of the system, while food diplomacy is about the relationships through which those rules are discussed, influenced and changed.

That distinction has relevance for the Pacific because food sits at the intersection of so many of the region’s priorities. It touches livelihoods, health, culture, land, ocean, trade, climate change, biodiversity and traditional knowledge.

Kava and tuna: diplomacy already in practice

Kava is a good example. To see kava simply as an agricultural export is to miss much of its importance. It is also a cultural practice, a ceremonial drink, an income source and an increasingly valuable international product.

Its governance involves food safety, recognised varieties, processing, quality, labelling, standards and market access. Its diplomacy lies in Pacific countries working together on these overarching issues, ensuring Pacific knowledge and interests are considered when international rules are developed.

Tuna provides an even larger example. Pacific countries are custodians of the world’s largest tuna fishery. Yet individually many are small economies negotiating with distant-water fishing nations and large international seafood interests. Their response has been collective action.

Over several decades, Pacific countries have built cooperative approaches to fisheries management, science, surveillance, access arrangements and international negotiations.

Seen through another lens, this too is food diplomacy. It has usually been described as fisheries management, resource governance or regional cooperation. But it raises many of the same questions that arise elsewhere in food systems: Who sets the rules? Where is value created? And how can countries achieve collectively what they would struggle to achieve individually? These questions are becoming increasingly important across the Pacific food economy.

From participation to influence

International and regional organisations play an essential role. FAO, WHO, IFAD, SPC, the European Union, development banks and bilateral partners are among those contributing funding, expertise and policy support to agriculture, nutrition, fisheries, food security and climate resilience.

Pacific governments themselves are also developing a stronger regional framework. The Growing the Pacific 2050 Strategy, endorsed by Pacific Agriculture and Forestry Ministers in 2025, sets out pathways towards healthier, more resilient and better-connected regional food systems. There is therefore no shortage of activity.

The food diplomacy question is different: how can Pacific countries ensure they are not only participants in food programmes and recipients of technical assistance, but influential in deciding what those programmes and systems should become?

Overseas market standards can determine whether Pacific products can be sold there. Scientific assessments can change the perception of traditional food. Shipping decisions made thousands of kilometres away can affect prices and export viability. Climate change may alter the location of tuna stocks. Biosecurity decisions can open or close markets.

For small economies, relationships with the institutions and people making those decisions matter greatly. This is where a more conscious food diplomacy approach could help. Instead of treating each issue separately, Pacific governments and regional organisations could identify areas where coordinated engagement would strengthen the region’s influence.

Giving Pacific food diplomacy greater coherence

Going further could mean bringing trade, diplomatic and cultural considerations into discussions about food standards earlier; making sure Pacific priorities are clearly articulated when major food-system programmes are designed; or using diplomatic missions to build relationships with regulators, buyers, researchers and policy-makers whose decisions affect Pacific producers.

Trade agencies could contribute market knowledge and private-sector connections. Scientists and standards bodies could provide evidence. Producers could bring practical experience. Cultural leaders could contribute knowledge that may not appear in a technical report but may be essential to understanding traditional aspects.

There is also a wider regional advantage. The Pacific has long practised a style of diplomacy built on dialogue, relationships, patience and consensus. Those qualities are well suited to the complex questions surrounding food, where science, commerce, culture and national interests often overlap.

Food diplomacy could therefore become another expression of Pacific regionalism. The region is already negotiating over kava. It is already acting collectively on tuna. It is already working with partners on nutrition, agriculture, climate resilience and food security. Pacific producers and chefs are already taking the region’s foods and stories to international audiences.

The opportunity is to recognise that these activities are connected.

A Pacific approach to food diplomacy need not create another programme for its own sake. Instead, it could use existing relationships more deliberately to strengthen Pacific influence over the decisions that shape the region’s food systems.

For a region where food is inseparable from land, ocean, culture, health and livelihoods, that is worth considering. The Pacific may already be practising food diplomacy. The next step is to recognise it, give it greater coherence and use it more strategically….PACNEWS