East Timor has made a donation of half a million US dollars to the Vanuatu-based secretariat of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
Our correspondent reports the donation, presented by the prime minister Xanna Gusmao who's visiting Vanuatu, is in return for the MSG granting East Timor observer status earlier this year.
The money will go to towards the salary and other expenses for an economic advisor at the secretariat.
The advisor is to produce research and analysis on economic policy issues of concern to MSG members.
