Cook Islands

In the Cook Islands, PSDI-supported reforms are making it easier to start, manage, and finance a business. 

We have been working with the Government of Cook Islands to:

  • Develop new lending products using the PSDI-developed transactions framework;

  • Design a new International Entities Registry, which the Cook Islands' Financial Supervisory Commission launched in October 2024;

  • Design and develop an online domestic Companies, Incorporated Societies, and Personal Property Securities Registry, which launched in December 2019;
  • Create clear and inclusive company laws, including the Companies Act, 2017, which became active with the December 2019 registry launch;

  • Strengthen the financial position of Bank of Cook Islands, and build its capacity to identify and manage operational risks;

  • Improve the efficiency and sustainability of state-owned enterprises by enabling public-private partnership transactions;

  • Promote women's economic participation through advocacy and analysis, including comprehensive research on the representation of women in business leadership.

For detailed information on PSDI activities in the Cook Islands, download the 2025 PSDI Country Overview here.

Cook Islands at a glance

Modern, locally tailored business laws

3 PSDI-supported bills—Companies Bill, Personal Property Securities Bill, and Incorporated Societies (Amendment) Bill—passed by Cook Islands Parliament in December 2017.

Online business registrations

PSDI supported the creation of an online domestic Companies, Associations, and Personal Property Securities Registry, which launched in December 2019.

5,000 securities registered

As of June 2024, more than 5,000 security interests over movable assets to be used as collateral for loans have been registered using the PSDI-supported secured transactions framework.

Financial strengthening

PSDI is helping strengthen the financial position of the Bank of the Cook Islands, which includes developing policies for liquidity management and operational risk management.

National Investment Policy Statement

Developed in partnership with Cook Islands’ Business Trade and Investment board.
Latest News
11 October 2024
Cook Islands Launches New International Business Registry to Strengthen AML/CFT Compliance—PSDI

The Cook Islands Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) has launched a secure and state-of-the-art registry for international entities, developed by the Asian Development Bank’s Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI), with support from the Government of Australia.

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23 September 2024
Research to narrow the digital gender divide in Pacific

PSDI has worked in partnership with local and international partners to shine a spotlight on the digital gender divide in the Pacific and call on governments to invest in affordable internet access and digital education to help bridge the gap.

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19 September 2023
Draw on diversity and shared experiences for meaningful change—PSDI Leadership Matters Cook Islands

PSDI on 19 July 2022 hosted almost 30 representatives of Cook Islands government ministries, state-owned enterprises, private-sector companies, and nongovernment organizations for the launch of Leadership Matters: Benchmarking Women in Business Leadership in the Pacific. Watch the video

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1 July 2023
Building a Multisector Regulator for the Cook Islands

PSDI is supporting the establishment of a multisector regulator in the Cook Islands to enable a coordinated approach to regulatory and competition reform.

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10 October 2022
‘Holistic and dedicated’ PSDI support helped Cook Islands mitigate worst of COVID-19: study

PSDI's provision of critical technical support and resources to the Cook Islands helped bolster national resilience to shocks like COVID-19, an academic journal article has argued.

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19 July 2022
Proud of success so far, and more progress possible on women in business leadership—PSDI Leadership Matters event in Cook Islands

Almost 30 government, business, and civil society representatives in the Cook Islands have gathered to discuss the findings of PSDI's Leadership Matters study on women in Pacific business leadership.

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Key Publications
PSDI Annual Report FY2024
PSDI Annual Report FY2024
This annual report outlines how the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative supported the enabling environment for business and helped foster inclusive private sector-led economic growth in the Pacific during FY2024 (1 July 2023 - 30 June 2024).
PSDI Country Overviews 2024-2025
PSDI Country Overviews 2024-2025
These fact sheets provide an overview of PSDI activities in each country to 2025.

PSDI Annual Report FY2023
PSDI Annual Report FY2023
This report gives an overview of PSDI activities from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.
Leadership Matters 2024: Benchmarking Women in Business Leadership in the Pacific
Leadership Matters 2024: Benchmarking Women in Business Lead...
This is the second edition of the Leadership Matters series, which collects and analyzes data on women’s representation on boards and in senior management in 14 Pacific countries.
Unlocking Potential: A Gender Inclusive Private Sector Framework for the Pacific Report and Country Assessments
Unlocking Potential: A Gender Inclusive Private Sector Frame...
The Gender Inclusive Private Sector Framework serves as a practical checklist for Pacific governments and institutions to measure progress and identify areas where further improvements are needed.
Innovative Financing Mechanisms in the Pacific
Innovative Financing Mechanisms in the Pacific
This paper examines the potential benefits and issues to consider around implementing Innovative Financing Mechanisms in the Pacific, which can lower barriers and provide more options for businesses seeking finance.