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Pacific Briefs
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Posted on Apr 26 2001
PNG-China trade booming
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PIR) — Trade between Papua New Guinea and China is expected to top $325 million next year, PNG-China Business Council President Chris Marlow announced.
Trade between the two countries had grown from $5 million in 1991 to more than $233 million last year.
China imports timber, crude oil and sea products from Papua New Guinea while PNG imports Chinese textiles, shoes, bags, bicycles, toys, electric and electronic goods, canned foods and building materials.
Guam ranks 3rd for Japan’s spring honeymooners
HAGATNA, Guam (PIR) — Guam’s popularity among Japanese springtime honeymooners has surged, according to a new survey that ranked the island No. 3 compared to No. 11 last year, the Pacific Daily News reports.
Tokyo-based travel agency JTB Corp. said Guam followed No. 2 Las Vegas and No. 1 Honolulu as the most popular overseas destinations for Japan’s newlyweds.
Neighboring Saipan also made it to the top 20 list, placing 19th.
Lower costs and closer proximity to home are among the reasons that more Japanese honeymooners prefer Guam or Saipan, the survey found.
Tuvalu increases .tv Internet suffix investment
FUNAFUTI, Tuvalu (PIR) — The government is investing another $3 million in the company that is marketing its popular Internet suffix – .tv.
Finance Minister Lagitupu Tuilimu told Parliament that under the stewardship of the DotTV corporation in Los Angeles, .tv has become the fastest growing specialized domain name in Internet history.
He said the corporation now employs more than 100 people around the world and new offices have opened in London and Hong Kong.
Cooks gov’t criticized for spending
AVARUA, Cook Islands (PIR) — Former Prime Minister and current opposition leader Sir Geoffrey Henry has criticized the government for spending too much money on overseas trips for ministers and officials.
He said the government should focus its spending on improving schools on the outer islands, where students are short on supplies.
In an interview with Radio Australia, Henry said the money for development on the outer islands is “paltry” compared to what is being spent on the main island of Rarotonga.
