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The Pacific Blue Economy: Towards Economies of Scale

By Joseph Veramu -
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(The author acknowledges the support of the Fiji National University and the Office of the Vice Chancellor in expediting this research.) One of the challenges of the Pacific is that 90 percent of the total Pacific population live in only 3 nations, namely, PNG, Fiji and the Solomon Islands. 6 nations have populations of less than 20,000 and 6 have populations that are less than 300,000. This raises the point that because of their smallness it makes sense for many Pacific nations to develop economies of scale and form an Economic union. 1 - Economic Developments in Pacific Island Countries Summary of key economic points and strategies The Pacific region benefited from economic growth in Asian nations like China, South Korea, Japan and India. It is important that while Pacific nations nurture trade ties to traditional partners like Australia and New Zealand that they also strengthen links with Asia. S&P Global Inc notes that economies in the Asia-Pacific region will dominate glob...
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Fiji’s Corruption Perceptions Index Score Highlights Effectiveness of Anti-Corruption Agency

By Joseph Veramu -
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Joseph Veramu is an Executive of CLCT Integrity Fiji The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2021 results released on Jan 25, 2022 showed that Fiji received a score of 55 out of 100 and a ranking of 45 out of 180 nations. The CPI ranks 180 countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. The results are given on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Two-thirds of countries scored below 50, indicating that they have serious corruption problems, while 27 countries are at their lowest score ever. A Report in Transparency Times of 24/1/2022 noted that “From a Transparency International New Zealand point of view, it was also pleasing, given the work we’ve been doing with Fiji to see them re-enter the index rating with a score of 55, placing it well inside the top 50 countries.” Grace Konrote of Integrity Fiji’s Youth Network noted “we have to give credit where it is due. The Fijian anti-corruption agency FICAC has worked hard in anti-corruption advocacy and i...
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New Zealand Foreign Policy in the Pacific

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by Joseph Veramu (joseph.veramu@outlook.com) On the Air New Zealand plane back to Fiji from Wellington in February 2019 after I attended a week-long workshop on governance and the role of non-state agencies in the Pacific anti-corruption space, I reflected critically on the Pacific and the development aid that was poured into it. My participation had been funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZMFAT) and facilitated by Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ). This article reflects on how current progressive policies are proactively shaping Pacific policy narratives and space. New Zealand’s Progressive Policies On February 27th 2018, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in her foreign policy address indicated a major shift in terms of increased support for Pacific nations. For Pacific islanders used to leaders attired in power suits and mouthing policy lines on increased GDP and trade, she was like a graceful dolphin moving symbiotically in its habi...
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