Moreover, social indicators also show the major variances in our progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). An additional challenge for us is to keep a more balanced and sustainable growth while grappling with the issue of globalisation. The role of the public sector to build a supportive policy and regulatory framework for infrastructure investments is essential, irrespective of the source of financing.
Investment is another hurdle for us. It is extremely difficult to attract investment to our small islands in the vast blue Pacific Ocean. The global competition for this investment dollar is intense. It may be true that even with the right economic policies, foreign direct investment may still be elusive. But essentially we do not have a choice.