The 2013 Pacific and PNG Update provides a forum for the discussion of the latest economic, social and political developments in the region. The Update was hosted by the Development Policy Centre, and supported by: the Asian Development Bank’s Pacific Economic Management Technical Assistance Project; and the Asia and Pacific Policy Studies, the flagship publication of the Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU in partnership with Australian Aid, AusAID.

The session was opened by Professor Tom Kompas, Director of the Crawford School.

Christopher Edmonds, Senior Economist in the Pacific Department of the ADB, provided a regional overview and launched the latest Pacific Economic Monitor.

Panel 1a on Melanesia and Timor-Leste consisted of:

- Satish Chand, from UNSW, presenting on Growth and inequality in Melanesia

- Anthony Hughes, an independent consultant from the Solomon Islands, presenting on The economy in Solomon Islands

- Biman Prasad, from USP, presenting on The economy in Fiji

- Helder Lopes, Regional Economic Policy Advisor in the Ministry of Finance of Timor-Leste, presenting on The economy in Timor-Leste

- Odo Tevi, an independent consultant from Vanuatu, presenting on The economy in Vanuatu

Presentation slides are available from the Devpolicy events page: https://devpolicy.crawford.anu.edu.au/event-extra/past