Regional Archive January 2008

Given the dramatic challenges presented by climate change, including the risk that some islands in the Pacific may become uninhabitable, the ADB's Pacific Strategy will be further refined to provide more emphasis on environmental management to help the region better manage its vulnerable natural environment.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is continuing the consultation process on its safeguard policies, seeking valuable feedback from stakeholder groups from across Asia and the Pacific as it updates its environment, involuntary resettlement and indigenous peoples safeguard policies.

PNG has been named by the World Bank as one of the hardest countries in the world to do business in.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and its development partners are setting up a facility that will provide seed capital for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the Asia-Pacific region amid growing energy demands and high oil prices.

Papua New Guinea's weightlifting gold medalist, Dika Toua, has been invited to compete at the Beijing Olympic qualifiers later this month.

News reports from Fiji state that a cabinet statement has announced that the country will establish diplomatic relations with four sovereign countries.

An article by Cynthia Banham in the Sydney Morning Herald has touched on the relations between Australia and the region.

Taiwan is said to be about to appoint its very first aboriginal diplomat.