Cook Islands and ADB

In the Spotlight

Uncertainties Delaying Economic Recovery in the Pacific

Growth in the Pacific is expected to remain weak in 2018, as economic and political uncertainties, fiscal challenges, and natural disasters hold back some of the region’s larger economies. The Cook Islands’ economy is expected to expand by 3.5% in 2018, says a new ADB report.
ADB, New Zealand Support High-Speed Internet for Cook Islands

ADB's Board of Directors has approved a $15 million loan for an internet submarine cable project to connect Rarotonga and Aitutaki in the Cook Islands.
Pacific Economic Monitor - December 2017

This latest issue highlights the gains of Pacific developing member countries and the challenges that these countries continue to face including the impacts of climate change.
Cook Islands: Investing in a Sustainable Future

This country brief highlights how ADB operations have helped the Cook Islands weather cyclones and fiscal crises, and contribute to stable economic and social infrastructure.

The Cook Islands consists of 15 small islands dispersed over 1.8 million square kilometers of the South Pacific Ocean.

Tourism is the country’s leading source of revenue, accounting for around 60% of gross domestic product, ahead of offshore banking, pearl farming, marine industry, and fruit exports. The Cook Islands is highly vulnerable to external economic shocks, especially falls in tourism, and is prone to natural disasters, particularly cyclones.

The ADB country operations business plan (COBP), 2017-2019 for the Cook Islands is aligned with ADB’s Pacific Approach 2016-2020, which guides ADB’s operational assistance in the Pacific and serves as the country partnership, with an emphasis on reducing costs, managing risks, and enabling value creation.

Cook Islands: By the NumbersVisit the Data Library

ADB and Cook IslandsFact Sheet

Latest

News from Country Offices 18 Jul 2018

Utilities Reform Needed for Better Service Delivery in the Pacific — ADB
Investments in basic services must be complemented by policy and regulatory reforms as well as capacity development to support a shift towards more commercially viable utilities in the Pacific, according to a new ADB report.
Publication 18 Jul 2018

Pacific Economic Monitor - July 2018
This issue highlights the economic prospects of the Pacific developing member countries (Pacific DMCs) and stresses the importance of improving the quality and access to basic and sustainable utilities in the Pacific DMCs.
Publication 22 Jun 2018

Tourism as a Driver of Growth in the Pacific
Tourism in the Pacific is increasing and will be a key driver of economic growth in the coming decade. Yet despite more visitors to the Pacific, tourism growth is not inevitable for all countries in the region.