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 a secured transactions framework that will make it easier for lenders to accept movable assets as collateral;

  • 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 Bill, which passed Cook Islands Parliament in December 2017, and 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;

  • Review the legislative, governance, and monitoring framework for Cook Islands’ SOEs; and

  • Support reforms through advocacy and analysis, including a comprehensive assessment of the private sector published in 2015: The Cook Islands: Stronger Investment Climate for Sustainable Growth.

Resources and Spending

PSDI has increased its activity in the Cook Islands over the past few years, with almost one-third of the $1,459,028 in total funding spent in 2018–2019.

Spending on business law reform, which includes the development of an online companies registry and associated legal reform, accounts for 52% of all spending in the Cook Islands. Competition and Consumer Protection received the second highest proportion—20%—of overall allocations to Cook Islands. This included the preparation of a Telecommunications Bill and a Multi-sector Regulator Bill, which both passed Parliament in 2019.

CookIslands2007 2019 web

On this website, $ refers to US dollars unless otherwise stated.

For detailed information on PSDI activities in the Cook Islands, download the 2022 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.

Secured transactions reform

PSDI helped develop a secured transactions framework that will make it easier for lenders to accept movable assets as collateral.

Private sector assessment

The Cook Islands: Stronger Investment Climate for Sustainable Growth published in October 2015.

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.
Latest News
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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3 November 2021
Tourism can bounce back better, says new regional study

The Cook Islands News covers the new PSDI Regional Tourism Assessment and accompanying country tourism snapshots.

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1 November 2021
PSDI Tourism Publications Launched

PSDI has today launched a series of publications focused on the Pacific tourism sector: 14 country tourism snapshots and a regional tourism assessment. They provide an overview of the sector before the pandemic, identify challenges and opportunities, and provide recommendations to guide recovery.

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2 October 2021
Cooks leading the way for women in business

From the Cook Islands News: Cook Islands’ representation of women in business has grown by leaps and bounds, according to a new regional report.

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24 September 2021
Pacific Surpasses Global Averages for Women's Representation in Business Leadership—PSDI.

Gaining access to leadership positions can be challenging for women, but there are increasing opportunities for women to lead in business in the Pacific, according to a new report from the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative.

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Key Publications
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A Secure Retirement: Leveling the Playing Field for Women in...
This publication proposes a series of priority reforms to address women’s disadvantage in accessing benefits from Pacific retirement funds.
PSDI Country Overviews 2022
PSDI Country Overviews 2022
What is PSDI doing in the Pacific? These fact sheets provide an overview of all PSDI activities at the country level to 2022.
Reopening Borders to Tourism in Pacific Island Countries: Key Lessons and Guidance
Reopening Borders to Tourism in Pacific Island Countries: Ke...
PSDI has launched a tourism reopening framework for Pacific island countries, providing critical policy guidance as international tourists return in the post-COVID-19 era.
PSDI Infographic Brochure 2022
PSDI Infographic Brochure 2022
This infographic brochure illustrates PSDI’s overall work and key achievements.
State-Owned Enterprises: Board Nomination Practices in the Pacific
State-Owned Enterprises: Board Nomination Practices in the P...
This policy brief challenges policymakers to consider a transparent and objective board nomination process as critical to an SOE’s prospects of achieving its commercial and operational goals.
Economic Empowerment of Women 2022
Economic Empowerment of Women 2022
This infographic brochure illustrates PSDI’s work and key achievements in its Economic Empowerment of Women focus area.