Find Industry and Manufacturing expertise in Kiribati

Manufacturing in Kiribati contributed 6.2% to the GDP of Kiribati in 2009, an increase of 0.3% from the previous year (World Bank 2010). Kiribati has few natural resources and as such is considered to have a fairly limited manufacturing base, which primarily consists of fish processing and traditional crafts often produced by individuals or small co-operatives for local consumption and tourism rather than for the national or international markets.

Exporting is naturally limited by the lack of systems in place to support high capacity output. According to the Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook, Kiribati exported $7.066 million worth of commodities in 2010, exports are comprised mainly of: copra (62%); coconuts; seaweed and fish. Due to the lack of natural resources Kiribati is heavily reliant on imported goods, in 2010 Kiribati imported $80.09 million worth of goods, including: foodstuffs; machinery and equipment; miscellaneous manufactured goods and fuel.

The major manufacturing companies are all owned and run by the Government of Kiribati; these include the Kiribati Copra Mill Company Limited (KCMCL) and the Tarawa Biscuit Company Limited (TBCL). While such companies do contribute to the regional market they are still relatively small players in the global context.

The development of industry and manufacturing in Kiribati is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, relatively weak infrastructure, and Kiribati’s remoteness from the big international markets. As such tourism plays a large part in the economy of Kiribati contributing more than 20% of GDP.

Industry and Manufacturing organisations in Kiribati
Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives
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