This 2016 Article IV Consultation highlights that the economy of the Marshall Islands is estimated to have expanded by about 0.5 percent in FY2015 (ending September 30), as the fishery sector recovered. Following a moderate inflation of 1.1 percent in FY2014, headline inflation dropped to –2.2 percent in FY2015 amid falling oil and utility prices. The fiscal balance is estimated to have recorded a surplus of about 3 percent of GDP in FY2014–15, owing to record-high fishing license fees. Growth is expected to rise to about 1.5 percent and inflation to about 0.5 percent in FY2016, as the effects of the drought in earlier 2016 are offset by the resumption of infrastructure projects.

The study contains analyses and recommendations on the approaches to capacity development that work best and the conditions that have been conducive to their success, the unique challenges faced by Pacific developing member countries in addressing capacity constraints, and the implications for future interventions at both the strategic and operational levels.

The cross-cutting impact of finance on different sectors and economic activities amplifies opportunities for expanding financial inclusion and poverty reduction, which is why the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) 2011 Financial Sector Operational Plan (FSOP) was designed to address challenges ahead. ADB's finance sector operations contributed 11% of total lending portfolio over 2011-2015, about 15% of that in 2015 alone. This review examines the implementation of the 2011 FSOP and looks at the critical role of the finance sector in development in Asia and the Pacific. While this publication affirms that the FSOP remains valid and relevant, it also makes recommendations up to 2020 and provides a platform to launch the FSOP beyond 2020 to ensure its relevance with ADB's road to 2030.

Strong and timely containment measures have successfully prevented a domestic COVID-19 outbreak but have also weighed on economic activity. The real GDP is estimated to have contracted by 3.3 percent in FY2020 and is projected to further decline by another 1.5 percent in FY 2021 due to continued travel restrictions. Economic activity is expected to pick up in FY2022, as COVID-related restrictions will be relaxed gradually. The government is currently negotiating the renewal of Compact of Free Association (COFA) financial provisions with the United States, but terms remain uncertain. The government is considering to repeal the SOV Act and a bill on establishing a Digital Economic Zone was submitted to the Parliament recently.