Fiji

“We are still tracking the Shuen De Ching No.888 and we have supplied all our information to the nations where the ship might pull into their ports, including Papua New Guinea, Nauru and Fiji.

“We think it is vital for Pacific nations to investigate this ship to show that illegal fishing will not be tolerated, particularly as the region tries to develop a sustainable fisheries industry,” said Lagi Toribau, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Global Tuna campaigner from aboard Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior ship.

Marape was in Fiji over the weekend and says they are hoping more investors will find opportunities in Fiji.

PNG businesses have already invested in two of Fiji’s top hotels, the Grand Pacific and the Pearl South Pacific Resort.

“Relationships between nations are built on many aspects and lately one of the fundamental aspects of those relationship is business, commerce, trade and PNG and Fiji has seen a growing rapport in as far as various exchanges are concerned.”

The pair were scheduled to both attend PIF in Port Moresby this week but Bainimarama is a no-show and Key said “it would have been nice” if he had turned up.

Key acknowledged it was Bainimarama's decision saying, “if he doesn't want to come he doesn't have to come”.

There are indications Bainimarama has been stirring up trouble by encouraging smaller Pacific states to thumb their noses at New Zealand and Australia this week.

He made the comment during a recent visit to Fiji and cited key priorities Pacific Opportunities: Leveraging Asia's Growth that would strengthen Pacific Island countries' links with Asian countries.

On shipping, Takehiko said, initial experience in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands suggested that subsidising the private sector on a competitive basis to undertake shipping routes to remote communities could be a better approach than through inefficient state-owned enterprises.

She has been attending the Pacific Islands Development Forum in Fiji where Pacific island countries have been coming up with a position to take to crucial UN climate change talks in Paris in November.

The statement includes a demand on limiting global temperature to 1 point 5 degrees over pre-industrial levels.

Mrs Robinson says the statement will have an impact on industrialised nations.

His appointment was announced by Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama at the PIDF Summit that ended on Friday.

“I have an important announcement to make – the name of the new Secretary General of the PIDF.

“The person we have chosen to take our organization forward is Mr Francois Martel of Samoa.

Cervical Cancer makes PIF agenda

http://www.looppng.com/content/cervical-cancer-makes-pif-agenda

Cervical Cancer affects about 50 percent of women in the Pacific and as such it is one of the key topics to be discussed at the 45TH Pacific Island Forum (PIF) meeting.

Bainimarama not attending PIF

http://www.looppng.com/content/bainimarama-not-attending-pif

Marshall Islands Foreign Affairs Minister Tony de Brum said the Pacific needed the PIDF because the former South Pacific Commission set up to look after the Pacific couldn't do so because of influence from donors such as US and UK.

He said donors gave funds with strings attached and it prevented regional organisations from doing what they were initially set up for. This, he said, had happened again to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and there was a need to have the PIDF.

He says he had hoped Australia would have done better in its target of reducing emissions by between 26 and 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.

"I have a simple message today for the Australian Prime Minister: Mr Abbott, it is time to put the welfare and survival of your Pacific Island neighbours before the expansion of your existing coal industry and your continuing reliance on this dirtiest of energy sources. The other day, the President of Kiribati, His Excellency Anote Tong, described Australia's loyalty to coalmines as selfish and I couldn't agree more."

There are about eight Fijian businesses currently in PNG.

PNG/Fiji Business Council Chair Nauzab Fareed says they want others to follow suit.

“If they have a clear manufacturing or business plan, I’m sure that they can go to PNG and take it to the next level. During the last 12 months we have assisted at least three to four firms to explore the PNG market and to understand whether it is possible for them to make investments’’.