Fiji

Radio Australia reports that PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has ‘ blasted his public service over the granting of controversial [SABL] leases’ and more …

Trade mission from Cairns

The hand-picked Chairman of Fiji’s Constitution Commission, Kenyan-born barrister Yash Ghai, fell foul of Fiji’s military government for printing 600 copies of the country’s newly-completed draft constitution. These were confiscated and set on fire in front of him by police before the ink had dried.

Business Advantage PNG spoke with the region’s three most senior bankers to get their thoughts on the year ahead.

The future of Papua New Guinea’s struggling mobile phone company Bemobile remains undecided, but it does seem increasingly likely that Vodafone Fiji will take over the running of the company.

If foreign investors have generally been wary of investing in Fiji since the 2006 coup, Papua New Guinea has been the exception.

Papua New Guinea is expected to remain the standout economy in the Pacific over the coming year, with its success having a knock-on effect on neighbouring Solomon Islands. Business Advantage summarises the outlook for the region’s larger economies.