Chinese Government grants Cook Islands NZ $2,106,000 for Pearl Farming Equipment Project

On March 24th, 2014, the Chinese Ambassador and Cook Islands Commissioner signed letters of exchange in Wellington for the Cook Islands Pearl Farming Equipment Project.

On January 28th, 2015, a handover ceremony was held for the donation of the equipment, with NZ $2,106,000, in Avarua, on the Rarotonga Island. Chinese manufacturer LiuGong provided the equipment; most of it will be received by Infrastructure Cook Islands.

Training will be provided to the operators and the contract between the government and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) stated the machines would be maintained by the Chinese company for the first 12 months. Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve.

Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.