A new shared online business-registry platform adopted by the Cook Islands, Palau and Tonga is being positioned as a major step forward in improving the ease of doing business across the Pacific. Developed through the Asian Development Bank’s Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI), the platform is designed to modernise company registration processes, reduce compliance costs for investors and strengthen transparency across the region’s regulatory systems.
The three countries are the first to deploy the multi-jurisdictional platform, which replaces legacy systems that were often paper-based, outdated or fragmented across agencies. The new system allows companies to register, renew licences and update statutory records online, giving both local and foreign investors a faster and more reliable route to establishing legal business entities. PSDI notes that the shared digital infrastructure is expected to significantly reduce administrative bottlenecks and improve the predictability of regulatory outcomes, two issues that have long hindered private-sector growth in small island economies.
In the Cook Islands, the upgrade aligns with broader efforts to rebuild investor confidence following recent uncertainty around the New Zealand funding pause and shifting tourism patterns. Government officials say the new registry will help streamline compliance, support the country’s strong entrepreneurial base and strengthen global perception of the jurisdiction’s regulatory robustness.
For Palau, the platform represents a critical piece of economic reform at a time when the country is working to diversify beyond tourism and reduce barriers for foreign investors. Digital registry systems are viewed as essential for improving service delivery and demonstrating readiness for increased private-sector participation. Palau’s authorities expect the system to help catalyse new ventures in hospitality, aquaculture and small-scale manufacturing, all sectors identified as priorities under national development plans.
Tonga, meanwhile, continues to rebuild economic capacity following recent shocks and natural disasters. The registry is intended to support small businesses and community-run enterprises by reducing the time and cost associated with formalisation. Officials say that encouraging more firms to enter the formal economy will help broaden the tax base, improve access to finance and create clearer pathways for investor partnerships.
According to PSDI, the shared platform also introduces opportunities for future regional integration, including cross-border recognition of companies and harmonised administrative practices. Over time, the initiative could help standardise business environments across the Pacific, making it easier for investors to operate in multiple jurisdictions. For small island states seeking to boost competitiveness, the shared registry is being widely viewed as a practical, scalable reform that addresses long-standing structural obstacles to private-sector development.
