This issue of the Pacific Economic Monitor discusses current and critical policy issues confronting ADB's Pacific developing member countries. The theme of the policy briefs in this issue is niche market development.

This edition of the Pacific Economic Monitor discusses the outlook for 2021 and key issues for recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, including vaccine procurement and distribution.

This latest issue of the Pacific Economic Monitor highlights the gains of Pacific developing member countries (Pacific DMCs) and the challenges that the Pacific DMCs continue to face including the impacts of climate change. The Pacific is among those parts of the world most vulnerable to weather-related disasters. To illustrate, 5 of the top 15 countries with the highest risk, and 10 of the top 30 facing the largest potential economic losses from disasters, are in the subregion. With climate change bringing additional risks from global sea level rise---and potentially heightening vulnerability to more intense, frequent, and prolonged extreme weather events---Pacific economies are stepping up adaptation efforts to brace for future adverse impacts. These include climate-proofing vital infrastructure assets, strengthening disaster risk management, and expanding social safety nets to build resilience to disasters. Further, a number of Pacific economies are promoting green urban development to move toward more sustainable green cities. Careful monitoring and planning will also be required to manage important income flows, including fishing license fees and tourism-related revenues, amid climate-related volatilities and to maintain adequate fiscal buffers for disaster response.

An analysis of 2015 budget outcomes and 2016 plans of ADB's Pacific member countries is the focus of this issue of the Pacific Economic Monitor, also including an analysis of opportunities and challenges from external factors.

This issue explores how Pacific developing member countries can strengthen their post-pandemic social protection systems to help address long-standing development concerns and boost resilience to further shocks. It assesses individual countries’ economies and outlines ways they could improve their social protection systems, despite depleted resources. Exploring megatrends facing the subregion, including population ageing and migration, it shows how investing in universal social protection policies can have a long-term impact on reducing poverty, vulnerability, and social exclusion.

This issue of the Pacific Economic Monitor updates the 2016 and 2017 GDP growth and inflation projections ADB's Pacific developing member countries. The theme of the policy briefs in this issue is Fisheries in Pacific Economies.

This publication provides an update on developments in Pacific economies, explores topical policy issues in the region over the years, and presents global forecasts for 2019. It includes an outline of the economic setting, as well as country economic issues and specific policy briefs for 14 Pacific economies. This includes analysis of critical development challenges including connectivity, climate change and disaster resilience, tourism, fisheries, and public sector management. The December 2018 issue also focuses on debt sustainability amid clear financing needs to help address remaining infrastructure and services gaps in the Pacific.

This issue of the Pacific Economic Monitor explores how the region can reopen and rebuild. Besides safely resuming travel and protecting health, a resilient recovery will depend on promoting fiscal sustainability and strengthening economic management, including regional cooperation to revitalize tourism.

The Pacific's economic outlook remains solid despite the global slowdown. While social development gains in the region have been steady, some big challenges remain. This issue of the Pacific Economic Monitor begins with an overview of international and regional economic developments. It features 13 articles and policy briefs that explore socioeconomic development in the Pacific, particularly on social protection, education, elderly care, health care and health financing, pension schemes, water and sanitation, nutrition, employment, and financial inclusion.

To help overcome remoteness, Pacific economies are looking to improve economic integration not only through ICT and transport network investments, but also by promoting greater competition and private investment. Enhancing connectivity is crucial to the Pacific and its people, who constantly contend with the challenges of geographic isolation and remoteness. Physical connectivity through air and maritime links brings people, goods, and services to and from the Pacific while digital connectivity through information and communication technology (ICT) integrates the region with the rest of the world. This section tackles Pacific developing member countries' efforts to enhance connectivity by expanding internet and other ICT connections, improving and maintaining transport networks, and strengthening investment facilitation. Ultimately, the goal of connectivity is to link Pacific peoples with each other, and enable them to access goods and important social services, as well as economic opportunities, locally and globally.