Pacific Economic Monitor July 2017

Book excerpt: To help overcome remoteness, Pacific economies are looking to improve economic integration not only through ICT and transport network investments, but also by promoting greater competition and private investment. Enhancing connectivity is crucial to the Pacific and its people, who constantly contend with the challenges of geographic isolation and remoteness. Physical connectivity through air and maritime links brings people, goods, and services to and from the Pacific while digital connectivity through information and communication technology (ICT) integrates the region with the rest of the world. This section tackles Pacific developing member countries' efforts to enhance connectivity by expanding internet and other ICT connections, improving and maintaining transport networks, and strengthening investment facilitation. Ultimately, the goal of connectivity is to link Pacific peoples with each other, and enable them to access goods and important social services, as well as economic opportunities, locally and globally.