Cook Islands

The Cook Islands, an archipelago located in the South Pacific, is a self-governing state with about 18,000 inhabitants. Its head of state is the same as that of New Zealand, the British Queen. The Cook Islands has a prime minister, elected from the members of the local parliament.

It was a British protectorate from 1888 to 1901, administered by New Zealand. In 1965, they were granted autonomy as a state associated with New Zealand. Cook Islanders hold New Zealand citizenship and have free access to New Zealand territory.

The archipelago's economy is based on the tourism industry, which accounts for more than half of the GDP. The Cook Islands has sought to diversify its economic activities by establishing an international financial services industry and by issuing fishing licenses.

The country is a member of the 1982 Nauru Agreement, which aims to promote the coordination and harmonization of tuna fishery management in the eight member countries. The issue is of great relevance to Pacific island countries, which depend to a greater or lesser extent on revenues from fishing licenses for foreign vessels to fund the government. In the case of the Cook Islands, 11 percent of government revenues in 2016 came from such licenses.

Due to its sui generis character, the Cook Islands is not a member of the UN, but has its own legal personality and is a member of several international organizations, such as UNESCO, FAO, WHO, and ILO.

Brazil established diplomatic relations with the Cook Islands in 2015. Bilateral agreements have not yet been signed. The Embassy of Brazil in Wellington is responsible for bilateral relations with the Cook Islands.

Commercial exchanges between Brazil and the Cook Islands are practically nonexistent.

Chronology of Bilateral Relations

2015 – Establishment of diplomatic relations