Cook Islands, ADB discuss continued collaboration to achieve development goals

Public Service Commissioner Carl Hunter and Asian Development Bank (ADB) representative James Webb met in Rarotonga last month to discuss future collaboration between the Cook Islands and the ADB in the public sector.

The Cook Islands and the Asian Development Bank have been working together since 1976. For nearly five decades, the partnership has focused on the Asian Development Bank’s commitment to provide public sector loans, grants and technical assistance to the Cook Islands to help it achieve its development goals.

“The Asian Development Bank has a long-standing and unwavering commitment to helping the Cook Islands achieve a more prosperous, inclusive, resilient and sustainable future, and has not only expanded its operations in the Cook Islands in 2022, but also strengthened its resilience to economic surprises and supported our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, including by promoting private sector investment,” Hunt said in a statement.

“The Cook Islands has a long-standing relationship with ADB that dates back nearly five decades, for which we are deeply grateful. We look forward to continuing to work with ADB to achieve our development goals and to discuss issues, aspirations, and matters that may affect our people in the future.”

For nearly 50 years, the Cook Islands has been in discussions with the Asian Development Bank on how to achieve its development goals. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Management is the focal point for the Asian Development Bank, which hopes to explore future support and opportunities in areas such as transport, aviation, water, the health sector and education in the Cook Islands.

In March 2024, the Ministry of Education and the Cook Islands Investment Corporation, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank, announced the successful completion of the Cook Islands School Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Facilities Improvement Project.

Last month’s meeting was also a continuation of discussions with the Office of the Public Service Commissioner on the Cook Islands functional review, which has been approved by Cabinet.

The Asian Development Bank provided funding for the Functional Review Report, and Weber said the bank supported the implementation of some parts of the review, including scoping the national workforce development program.

“I had a very positive exchange with Mr James Webb about the functional review,” Mr Hunt said.

“I look forward to working closely with him to advance some of the initiatives and changes we have discussed, particularly in relation to the review and how the Cook Islands can achieve its development goals.”