Case Studies

The Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI) has developed a regional registry software platform that is designed to make it easier and more cost-effective for Pacific developing member countries (DMCs) to implement a modern online registry option. Instead of each country starting from scratch, the regional platform allows Pacific countries to build tailored national business registries using a common foundation, which can significantly reduce development and ongoing costs and implementation time.

Business registries perform a key function as the public record for the registration of companies, business names, associations, and business groups, as well as the certification of foreign investment—making a modern, user-friendly platform a critical part of a well-functioning and supportive business environment.

Many business registries in the Pacific are outdated, either still paper-based or based on older technologies, which can make it difficult for entrepreneurs to register their businesses and comply with regulatory requirements. However, the high cost of building and maintaining a modern registry is a significant barrier for many Pacific countries looking to upgrade their systems.

PSDI’s regional platform addresses these challenges by allowing countries to adapt a ready-built modern, mobile-friendly system to their country’s specific needs, introducing cost and time efficiencies to the development process, to support accelerated reform across the region. The platform allows each country to operate its own stand-alone, self-hosted, and data-separated registry, customized to align with local laws and business processes. The platform offers flexible modules for matters including registration of companies, business names, cooperatives, international companies, security interests, foreign certification, and the operations of credit-reporting service providers.

The shared platform offers countries a number of key benefits, including enabling faster approvals for foreign direct investment, improving accessibility for users, automating suitable compliance processes, and accepting secure online payments. In addition, it strengthens registry data collection and analysis by providing built-in reporting tools for statistical reports and maintaining an audit trail of registered entities.

“By providing a shared, customizable foundation, the regional platform supports countries to upgrade their registries faster, reduce costs, and benefit from innovations and lessons learned across the Pacific,” said Terry Reid, PSDI’s international business law expert. “This is one the great advantages of PSDI’s regional model, which allows us to deliver solutions that are scalable and replicable in response to the shared challenges faced by businesses and governments across the Pacific.”

The regional registry can be further expanded to add a beneficial ownership registry, which would give authorities efficient access to accurate and up-to-date beneficial ownership information and support countries to comply with Financial Action Task Force Recommendation 24.

In fiscal year (FY) 2025, the Cook Islands, Palau, and Tonga launched new online registries built on the shared regional platform developed by PSDI. A Kiribati registry will be finalized and launched in FY2026.

Cook Islands

The Cook Islands’ international entities registry was launched by the Financial Supervisory Commission in September 2024. The new registry replaces the previous system, which had been in place since 2011, and introduces high standards of data security and cloud-based storage while reducing hosting and maintenance costs for the Government of the Cook Islands.

“This new registry is an important step in reinforcing the Cook Islands’ status as a regional leader in anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism compliance and maintaining our reputation as a secure and reliable place to do business,” said Cheryl McCarthy, commissioner at the Cook Islands Financial Supervisory Commission.

Left to right: Terry Reid, PSDI international business law expert; Phoebe Smith, Australia’s high commissioner to the Cook Islands; Cheryl McCarthy, commissioner at the Cook Islands Financial Supervisory Commission; John Kimbler, Paradigm Applications; and Gary Sin, Paradigm Applications.

Tonga

Tonga’s upgraded online business, foreign investment, and personal property securities registry went live in December 2024 and was launched by the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development at a ceremony in Nuku’alofa in February 2025. It introduces several new functionalities, including secure online payments and online foreign investment certification. The system also makes it easier for users to file, access, and search company, business names and licenses, and personal property securities records online all from one integrated resource.

“The Government of Tonga is committed to supporting a modern, innovative business environment in Tonga,” said Kapelieli Militoni Lanumata, minister of trade and economic development. “The upgrade of Tonga’s online registry is one way the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development is leading by example, by ensuring we have invested in the modern technology needed to make doing business faster and easier.”

Staff from the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, New Zealand Companies Office, and the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative at the launch of Tonga's new registry.

Palau and Kiribati

Palau’s new registry went live in January 2025, with a public launch scheduled for FY2026. Kiribati is expected to launch its registry, which also uses the regional platform, in FY2026.

This case study is taken from the PSDI FY2025 Annual Progress Report. Read the full report here.