THE number of developing countries with policies in place to support renewable energy has increased six-fold in just eight years, resulting in one-fifth of the world’s power production now coming from renewable sources, according to a United Nations-backed report produced ahead of the UN Sustainable Energy for All Forum. In the beginning of this year,…
Asian Development Bank and New Zealand are helping the Government of Tonga reconstruct and climate and disaster-proof the electricity network and school facilities that were damaged by Cyclone Ian in January 2014. ADB has approved a $4.52 million grant from ADB’s Disaster Response Facility, the New Zealand Government is providing a grant of $4.27 million,…
New Britain Palm Oil’s cattle operations in Ramu and Numundo in West New Britain, had generated K17.4 million in revenue last year. Chief executive Nick Thompson said cattle production looked promising this year. According to its report last year, the company produced 1,435 metric tons of beef, up from 1,304 the previous year. Their entire…
THE announced sale of Datec is subject to regulatory approvals but Steamships Trading Company Ltd is confident these can be secured, managing director Geoff Cundle said. Responding to questions by The National on why the company was putting up its information communication technology arm for sale, Cundle said the value of Datec would be enhanced…
A POSITIVE economic outlook typically raises demand for credit as corporations take on loans with the view that they will be able to capture a piece of the more sanguine future growth outlook or profits, says a report released by the ANZ Bank. It said the return they would earn on the funds would be…
Eleven Pacific Island nations have been invited to participate in an annual trade exhibition in Melbourne, Australia, later this year. Jeremy Grennell, from the Pacific Islands Trade and Invest (PT&I) said Pacific Island exporters should attend the trade exhibition as it was a cost effective sales and marketing platform. Grennell said the trade show, Fine…
World food prices rose in the first quarter of the year for the first time since their all-time high in August 2012, driven by rising demand in China, drought in the United States and unrest in Ukraine. The leapAccording to the World Bank, internationally traded food prices increased by a sharp 4.0 per cent. The…
Papua New Guinea is ready to host the 5th Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture in Port Moresby. This was the assurance from the Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Boka Kondra during a gala dinner at the Dynasty Restaurant last week. The dinner was hosted by the minister to celebrate the commissioning of the festival…
The Marshall Islands government has bought a hotel in Majuro and will turn it into a campus for the University of the South Pacific (USP). The government made a US$2 million down payment on the US$3.8 million price tag for the 36-room Long Island Hotel. The government purchase reduces available hotel rooms in Majuro to…
The United Nations health agency is calling on countries to raise taxes on tobacco to encourage users to stop and prevent other people from becoming addicted to tobacco. “Raising taxes on tobacco is the most effective way to reduce use and save lives,” says Margaret Chan, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). “Determined…