Marshall Islands: Asian Development Bank Member Fact Sheet 2017

Abstract

Just 181 square kilometers in area, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) lies amid a rich fishery area in the North Pacific. While the capital of Majuro and the atoll of Ebeye are heavily urbanized, small populations are dispersed across the country’s outer atolls. Annual grant assistance to the RMI under the Compact of Free Association with the United States (the Compact) has been diminishing since 2003. After the Compact grant period expires in 2023, the RMI is expected to complement domestic revenues with returns from the Compact Trust Fund, which receives annual savings from fiscal surpluses and contributions from development partners. Building the trust fund is a major challenge. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been supporting the Marshall Islands since 1990, and has committed loans for $93.10 million, grants for $21.76 million, and 52 technical assistance projects worth $22.17 million.