MSG

At the same time the Council of Ministers has instructed the Government to support United Liberation Movement for West Papua’s full membership of the MSG. 

The Minutes of the Council of Ministers (CoM) decision No 57 of 2016 that was released by the government’s public relations officer, Hilaire Bule, was clear on the position taken by the CoM.

The Minutes also carried the decision of the CoM that encouraged Vanuatu’s candidate for the MSG Director General’s position and any other candidate to seek judicial review over the appointment.

Last week, Fiji's foreign minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola said his country's Ambassador for Climate Change and Oceans, Amena Yauvoli, had been selected for the role.

RNZI reports it's over four months since the former MSG director-general Peter Forau resigned. The Solomon Islander cited a lack of budgetary support and declining commitment from member states to the group's programme.

The experts from Government Ministries and Agencies of MSG Member States held their second Aviation and Tourism Dialogue at the MSG Secretariat in Port Vila, Vanuatu, last week.

The two-day meeting was a follow-up to provide a platform for members to continue discussions on key issues, challenges and opportunities faced by member countries including Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea.

Prime Minister Sogavare also extends his visit to Jakarta, Indonesia who are Associate Member to the MSG grouping.

The Chair of the MSG, Prime Minister Sogavare who arrived in Vanuatu on Tuesday paid his first courtesy to the newly elected Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu, Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, MP, and also visited the Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade, Bruno Leingkone, MP.

West Papua has seen a low-level separatist war since Jakarta took over the former Dutch colony in the 1960s.

Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare made the proposal in Honiara this week to a ULMWP delegation led by their secretary general Octo Mote.

The Solomon Islands prime minister made the call as he welcomed what he described as Indonesia's change of strategy on West Papua and its approach towards West Papuan separatists.

The trade fair will be held over two days and ends on Friday.

On Wednesday, business and private sector representatives joined public sector investment officials for the MSG’s Investment Roadshow at the Jean Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre.

Peter Forau, who has held the position since 2011, tendered his resignation with the current chair of the MSG, the Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare.

He says circumstances beyond his control intervened in his desires to keep the job.

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) will be holding a series of key trade meetings and trade events over the next two weeks in Noumea, New Caledonia. 

This is setting up to be an exciting and historic meeting for the MSG with Trade Ministers from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu expected to sign a revised, modern and comprehensive trade agreement known as MSGTA 3 on Monday 16 November.

The Group says this will ensure greater connectivity within member countries which will result in more trade and economic activity.

Ways and means of having these services available is part of the 3rd MSG Trade Agreement that was been discussed by the Trade Ministers in Nadi last week.

Its an idea that is said to solve connectivity issues within the MSG member countries once and for all.

Papua New Guinea has been tasked to conduct a feasibility study to investigate the potential of having a MSG Shipping and airline services.