17 March 2020
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mark Brown will tomorrow afternoon announce a comprehensive Covid-19 economic response package that prioritises people.
“It is not lost on me, the Prime Minister and Cabinet the anxiety and uncertainty our people and businesses are feeling right now. That we are all feeling. We are all aware the economic and social havoc that’s erupted globally as this global pandemic continues to spread rapidly. By necessity, our immediate efforts and energy as government have focused on the health of our people to mitigate against our extreme vulnerabilities and exposure to Covid-19. The imposition of some of the strictest international travel and border measures in the world was not taken lightly but out of necessity, to flatten the curve and buy ourselves some time to give our people a fighting chance of mitigating the worse effects of Covid-19. Effects of which we’ve seen devastating impacts and significant loss of life in other countries,” said the DPM.
“With elevated levels of protection against Covid-19 at the border now in place, we’ve been able to give greater attention to economic considerations having over the last month consulted with a wide cross-section of Cook Islands government, business and society, including our pa enua. The economic response package I will announce tomorrow has had input from across our communities and prioritises our people – supporting our most vulnerable, protecting livelihoods and supporting business continuity through what will likely be the greatest health and economic challenge of our times,” said DPM Brown.
Development of the plan has been led by the DPM, supported by the Financial Secretary and officials of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) in consultation with government agencies, big and small businesses, the transport sector, the banks, importers, civil society and communities.
The announcement of the Covid-19 economic response plan is scheduled for 14:00 Wednesday 18 March 2020.
Queries regarding contents of this release can be emailed to Antonina Browne at antonina.browne@cookislands.gov.ck or phone 29347
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