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Official Name - Republic of the Marshall Islands
Land Area - 180 sq km: 5 islands and 29 atolls; 1,152 islets; 870 reefs
Population - 58,800 (July 2003 Asian Development Bank est)
Major Islands - Majuro, Ebeye and Kwajalein
Capital City - Delap on Majuro Atoll
Language - Marshallese and English (Official)
Currency - US Dollar
EEZ - 2,131,000 sq km
National government - President Kessai Note was re-elected on 12 January 2004, following elections for the Nitijela in November 2003.
National legislature - The House of Representatives, the Nitijela, has 33 members.
Last election - November 2003
Next election - November 2007
Head of State - President HE Kessai Note is both Head of State and Head of Government
GDP - US$135.3million (2004)
GDP per Capita - US$2,416 (2004)
Real GDP growth - -1.5% (2004)
Exports - US$8.3m (2001 - Source: EIU)
Imports - US$60.5m (2001 - Source: EIU)
Main Exports - Copra, coconut, chilled and frozen fish
Current Account Balance - US$14million (2004)
Inflation - 6% (2005)
NZ Exports - NZ$3,345,158 for year ended June 2005
Main Exports - Wood, aluminium, medicaments, sports equipment, wire
NZ Imports - NZ$1,747 for year ended June 2005
Main Imports - Screws, bolts and nuts
Located just north of the equator in the Pacific Ocean, the Republic of the Marshall Islands is made up of 1,200 islands, islets and atolls with a land area of 180 square kilometres. The group is spread in two formations, with the eastern groups known as the Ratak ("Sunrise") chain and the Western groups the Ralik ("Sunset") chain. The Marshall Islands have low vulnerability to tsunami, earthquakes and landslides, medium vulnerability to cyclones and droughts and high vulnerability to coastal flooding, and inadequate supplies of potable water
The Marshall Islands spent almost a century under the active administration of foreign powers. In 1885 Germany established a protectorate of the Marshall Islands until the beginning of World War I, when Japan occupied the island group. Japan began formal administration of the islands under a League of Nations mandate in 1920. After 1935, Japan declared the Marshall Islands to be an integral part of the Japanese Empire and established and reinforced military installations there. In 1944, the United States occupied the islands after fierce fighting with the Japanese.
After World War II, the United Nations created the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1947. The United States entered into a trusteeship with the UN Security Council and became the administering authority of the Marshall Islands (in addition to Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and Northern Mariana Islands). The trusteeship made the United States responsible financially and administratively for the region and obligated it to foster the development of political institutions. In addition, the United States was to move the Trust Territory toward self-government and to promote economic, social and education advancement. The agreement also allowed the United States to establish military bases and station forces in the Trust Territory.
The present constitution came into force in 1979, while the United States was still the administering authority under the UN Trust Territory Agreement. The Marshall Islands achieved independence in free association with the United States under a Compact of Free Association in 1986. The compact committed US funding of $250m over 15 years plus a role over period.
Negotiations for an amended compact were completed in February 2004, guaranteeing United States funding totalling around US $800m over the next 20 years. The new Compact focuses on several sectors neglected in the past - health and education infrastructure development. Reflecting the United States intention to phase-out its direct funding and encourage budgetary self-reliance, the new Compact established a trust fund, which annual contributions would be made into. It also confirmed the long run use of Kwajalein airbase by the United States.
Marshallese society was and for the most part, still is, stratified into three general classes: Iroij (chiefs), Alap (clan heads) and Rijerbal (workers). The Iroij have ultimate control of such things as land tenure, resource use and distribution as well as dispute settlement. The Alap's duties include maintenance of lands and supervision of daily activities. The Rijerbal are responsible for the daily work involved in subsistence, construction, agriculture and fishing. Land is divided into twelve categories, ranging from Imon bwij (land belonging to the whole lineage) to Kitdre (land given by a husband to his wife as a gift). Inheritance is matrilineal.
Over 2,000 years the Marshallese have developed, refined and perfected a number of special skills and technologies as they adapted to their unique environment. Of particular note is the wide range of fishing techniques unmatched by other cultures and brought about by the numerous and diverse fishing environments and an equally wide range of fish species.
Marshallese canoes, or wa, became sophisticated and specialised ranging from small rowing canoes to massive high-speed voyaging canoes. Local refinements developed and refined the asymmetric hull, the lee platform and the pivoting midship mast. Navigation skills matched their shipbuilding skills allowing great sea voyages. They learnt to read the stars, clouds, waves, currents, winds, birds and even the colour of the ocean and journeyed as far as Hawaii to the East, Wake Island to the North and southwards to Kiribati. Over the centuries these great explorers developed and refined navigational stick charts allowing them to understand complex wave and wind patterns in relation to specific islands and atolls.
Marshallese weavings also became famous and are reported by some as to be the best in the Pacific. Fans, baskets, mats and ornaments have won tremendous praise for their unique and highly intricate design.
The House of Representatives, the Nitijela, has 33 members for whom elections are held every four years. The President is elected from among members of the Nitijela, and in turn chooses the members of Cabinet. A Council of Traditional Chiefs, the Iroij, advises the President on matters of custom. President Note was re-elected for a second term in December and inaugurated as President on 12 January 2004. His "party," the United Democratic Party (UDP), holds 19 of the 33 member Congress and routinely receive support from two opposition members bringing the numbers close to a two thirds majority in practice.
In reality, there are no formally organised political parties with party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures in the Marshall Islands. Traditionally, what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups. Two 'groups', The Kabua Party and the United Democratic Party (UDP), have competed elections in recent years.
The economy is heavily dependent on payments from the United States and foreign aid from a variety of sources. About 70% of total GDP comes from United States grants. The Government of the Marshall Islands is looking at options for increasing the productivity sectors of the economy, particularly in fisheries, and at reducing the very high level of government involvement in the economy and reducing government expenditure. The Ministry of Resources and Development is endeavouring to improve the regulatory environment for foreign investment. There are opportunities for the expansion of tourism, especially diving and sport fishing. Other than United States funding, the main source of revenue is tuna fishing licences. The Marshall Islands has a narrow productive sector, based on copra/coconuts, subsistence farming and fishing.
Under the renewed Compact, funds are also allocated to a Trust Fund where it is intended they will build up and eventually provide an alternative source of income for the Marshalls when the Compact expires.
Diving
The Marshall Islands is renowned for its diving. With water visibility up to 200 feet, 28 degrees centigrade year-round water temperature, flourishing coral reefs, countless pinnacles and walls, myriads of sharks, turtles, rays, giant clams, and reef fish and a reserve of incomparable World War II wrecks, divers experience a unique environment.
Sports Fishing
Fishing has always played an important part of life in the Marshall Islands and the local people have a huge repertoire of many different techniques used over time in exploiting their many fishing environments. The seas of the Marshall Islands are rich in marlin, tuna, wahoo, mahimahi, barracuda, sailfish as well as a wide range of reef fish.
World War II history sites
During World War II, the Marshall Islands served as the eastern defensive perimeter for the Japanese military forces in the Central Pacific. After taking control of these Islands from Germany in 1914, the Japanese steadily increased their military presence and, in anticipation of war they began to fortify the atolls of Kwajalein, Wotje, Maloelap, Jaluit, Mili and Enewetak from the late 1930's onwards.
The first attack on Japanese forces in the Marshall Islands by U.S. forces occurred on 1 February 1942 and the next three years saw some of the bloodiest fighting in the whole of the Pacific. This has left the Marshall Islands with an enormous collection of war relics and wrecks that is unmatched in the region.
Under the Compact of Free Association, the Marshall Islands conducts its own domestic and foreign policy affairs, although responsibility for defence and security lies with the United States. A key foreign policy issue for the Marshall Islands is the question of further compensation for the islands affected by US nuclear testing. The islands of Rongelap, Bikini, Enewetak, Utrik and Ailuk have lodged claims worth US$2 billion with the Nuclear Claims Tribunal for compensation from the United States for alleged health damage from US nuclear tests carried out from 1946 to 1958. Under a former settlement, the United States has, to date, paid some US$270m in compensation.
The Marshall Islands maintains active relations - principally on aid matters - with Japan, which has an Embassy in Majuro, and with Taiwan, which has an office there.
Asian Development Bank (ADB), Economic & Social Commission for Asia & the Pacific (ESCAP), Group of 77 (G-77), IAEA, International Bank for Reconstruction & Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Monetary Fund (IMF), IMO, Inmarsat, International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (Intelsat) (nonsignatory user), Interpol, International Telecom Union (ITU), Organisation for the Prohibitation of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Co-operation Agreement (Sparteca), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), United Nations (UN), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), World Health Organisation (WHO).
Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
Signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
With no direct shipping links, trade between New Zealand and Marshall Islands is modest. There are some opportunities for New Zealand companies, particularly in the construction sector and the export of building materials, food and beverages.
New Zealand's relationship with the Marshall Islands is relatively limited, but friendly. It is mainly based around our common membership of the Pacific Islands Forum. Areas of common interest with RMI are fisheries, regional trade, climate change, and security issues such as combating terrorism, money laundering and people smuggling. New Zealand's High Commissioner in Tarawa, Kiribati is accredited as Ambassador to the Marshall Islands. Eighteen people born in the Marshall Islands were counted in New Zealand's 2001 Census Night Population Count.
New Zealand Official Development Assistance to FSM is covered under NZAID's regional thematic programmes in the areas of education, health, environment, good governance and emergency preparedness and disaster management.
With no direct shipping links, the trade between New Zealand and the Marshall Islands is modest. There are some opportunities for New Zealand companies, particularly in the construction sector and the export of building materials, food and beverages.
New Zealand High Commission Kiribati is accredited to the Marshall Islands.
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Marshall Island [external link].
