The republic of Kiribati is an independent country comprising 33 atolls in three main groups running 4,000 kilometres along the equator. Kiribati's Exclusive Economic Zone is the largest in Micronesia and one of the largest in the Pacific.
Kiribati faces significant challenges because of its remoteness, lack of scale and vulnerability to external shocks and environmental stress. Kiribati relies heavily on fishing revenue and remittances from citizens employed abroad, which are both affected by external circumstances, in particular fish migratory patterns and the state of the global economy.
Despite limited resources, Kiribati has largely had a solid record of financial stability since independence in 1979, due to cautious domestic spending and a deliberate policy of investing additional funds in Kiribati's sovereign wealth fund.
Recently, revenue from fishing licence fees has increased dramatically in Kiribati and donor-financed infrastructure projects have boosted growth. Steps are being taken to reduce the hurdles to private sector growth, among which are high transportation and communication costs and the increasing impact of climate change.
Kiribati and Australia share an ambition for our Blue Pacific continent – peaceful, prosperous and respectful of sovereignty. Close and longstanding relations are based on regional and international cooperation, trade links, development assistance, support for maritime surveillance and security cooperation, and people to people contacts. Australia’s development cooperation aligns with the Government of Kiribati’s development priorities, outlined in its ‘Kiribati Vision for 20 years 2016-2036 (KV20)’. We work in partnership to deliver outcomes that align with Kiribati’s three core pillars of Te Mauri (Health), Te Raoi (Peace) and Te Tabomoa (Prosperity).
The AIFFP in Kiribati
Australia’s investment in Kiribati, through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), includes:
Infrastructure sectors: off-grid renewable energy; and telecommunications and digital
Partners (A-Z): Action on Poverty; BwebwerikiNET Limited of Kiribati; Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Telecommunications Cable Corporation; Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific; Governments of FSM, Japan, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Nauru and United States; and Nauru Fibre Cable Corporation
Projects (A-Z):
Empowering local women and enabling greater access to clean energy and water in Kiribati
Improving digital connectivity in the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati and Nauru via submarine cable
Australian High Commission, Tarawa
Bairiki
Tarawa
Phone: +686 740 21184
Email: ahc.tarawa@dfat.gov.au
For more information on Australia and Kiribati’s diplomatic relations, see the DFAT website.