Private Sector Task Force – PSTF

To centralize the communication between the Private Sector and the Government, and to support all queries from the Private Sector regarding the financial support claiming process the Private Sector Taskforce (PSTF) was formed in March 2020.

Comprised of members from both the private and public sectors – including the Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Industry Council, CITC, Air Rarotonga, Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, Internal Affairs and others – the Private Sector Taskforce (PSTF) is tasked with measuring the impacts of the economic downturn and determining how to best mitigate those impacts, with a focus on providing practical assistance to local businesses.

The PSTF is the collective voice for the Cook Islands business community during the COVID-19 pandemic. PSTF represents all small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Cook Islands.

The PSTF also works to ensure that all businesses have the ability to access the Wage Subsidy, Business Grant and Sole Traders Grant schemes, and will support any who need assistance with completing the application process for these schemes.

The Government financial assistance had a substantial effect on the businesses in the Cook Islands. Most businesses on Rarotonga managed to stay afloat and many people continued to be employed as a result of the economic package.