While the typical image of the Pacific Island Countries is a paradise with sparkling blue ocean and beautiful nature, they are also facing many problems.

Economic difficulties

• Disadvantages as small island countries
  -- Small size of Population, land, and market
  Challenging geographical conditions (scattered land into ocean, isolation from large markets)
• Structural issues
  -- Dependence on aid from foreign countries and international organizations; dominant of public sectors in the economy

Environmental threats

• Sea-level rise attributed to the global warming
• Waste problem
• Destruction of nature (coral reefs, mangrove trees, tropical rain forests, etc.)
• Vulnerability against natural disasters (typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic movement, and eruptions, tsunami)

Transnational crime

• Vulnerability against transnational crime, such as money laundering

Shaking of identity

• Difficulty of harmonization of traditional cultures and social systems and modern systems and values
• Conflicts between different ethnic groups and tribes in some parts; searching for coexistence in multiracial and multiethnic societies

Marginalization in the process of globalization

• Digital divide

Need for better education

• As relatively newly-independent countries, most of them need to develop human resources.
• Urgent need to improve elementary schools and train teachers for elementary education
• Shortage of higher education institutions; need to despite geographical isolation provide higher education opportunities

(Copyright: JICA)

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