The Jakarta Post devoted generous coverage to the visit of the PM-led PNG delegation to Indonesia this week, including an upbeat quote from Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik that ‘the [shared] border possesses a huge amount of unexplored oil and gas reserves, according to data obtained by our team’.

* * *

PNG may have high hopes for Indonesia, but it already has strong ties to the Philippines. Air Niugini already flies to Manila and Cebu from Port Moresby, but The Philippine Daily Enquirer reports that local carrier South East Asian Airlines is also seeking to commence a Philippines–PNG service.

* * *

Meanwhile, the ABC reports that the recent idea to export surplus cattle from North Queensland to PNG may have legs (and hooves?). A cattle taskforce was due to meet in Cairns last Friday to discuss a draft import protocol which would fast-track the process.

* * *

The Solomon Islands fisheries sector is on a roll. Last week, a major South Korean onshore processing investment in the country moved a step closer, with the visit to Honiara of a senior representative of Dongwon Industries, one of the world’s largest fish processors.

Dongwon, owner of the US Starkist brand, is also considering an operation in Lae.

 * * *

Samoa Air’s CEO Chris Langton deserves a medal from the Samoan Government for the free publicity he is generating for the nation’s tourism industry.

After becoming the world’s first airline to charge people by weight, it has made the news again in places as distant as the UK, Spain and Indonesia by introducing an ‘XL’ class for passengers weighing more than 130kg. It is not clear if in-flight meals are included.