Region | Papua New Guinea and the Pacific

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Our Pacific Outlook blog features expert commentary and informed analysis on the latest Pacific news and affairs.

COVID-19 and a twin deficit: Early lessons from the Solomon Islands

Jack Boe, Senior Analyst at the Central Bank of Solomon Islands shares his views on how a pre-existing economic vulnerabilities make coping with the impact of COVID-19 especially challenging. Read More

Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 12 August

In this week’s Pacific bulletin, Tess Newton Cain looks at COVID-19 flares in PNG, Seasonal Workers Scheme re-opens on a trial basis, Forum Finance Ministers meet online, New Caledonia independence referendum and travel bubble talks in flux. Read More

IMF’s new central bank transparency code: A reflection on PIC efforts

PARMENDRA SHARMA | Griffith Asia Institute member and senior lecturer in the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics at Griffith University, Dr Parmendra Sharma reflects on the sincere efforts of the central banks of the Pacific Island Countries in making themselves more visible to the public. Read More

We can’t allow Pacific leaders to use coronavirus as a cover for authoritarianism

“Never let a good crisis go to waste.” Across the Pacific, leaders are holding fast to the old political maxim. Some, even, seem happy to have the Covid-19 crisis around. Read More

Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 29 July

In this week’s Pacific bulletin, Tess Newton Cain looks at the rise of COVID-19 numbers in PNG, Vanuatu celebrates 40 years of independence, Pacific voices address the UN Security Council, Solomon Islands maintains commitment to Pacific Games, and Tonga seeks debt relief from China. Read More

A tale of two sectors: Women leaders bridging the formal and informal sectors during Vanuatu’s COVID crisis

Anna Naupa explores how women leaders are bridging both formal and informal sectors to drive the Vanuatu government's COVID-19 tourism response and recovery. Read More

The impact of COVID-19 and policy measures undertaken in Papua New Guinea

The unprecedented scale and magnitude of the COVID-19 damage across the globe has caused loss of human life and massive disruption to economic activity. The… Read More

Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 22 July

In this week’s Pacific bulletin, Tess Newton Cain looks at COVID-19 update, unemployment support progress in the northern Pacific, PNG supports China in UN vote, Fiji Budget handed down and pardons in Vanuatu. Read More

Adapting remittances to the new normal—the case of Fiji

Remittance flow is falling victim to COVID-19. Eserani Munivai suggests expanding connectivity may enhance financial and digital literacy to reduce costs and deepen access across previously excluded segments in Pacific societies. Read More

PNG’s peril is Beijing’s chance

Papua New Guinea was the only Pacific country to back China’s harsh security legislation for Hong Kong. Rowan Callick suggests PNG's declining economy may be pushing them closer to Beijing. Read More