Editing Economy of the Cook Islands (section)

==Mining==
In 2019, the Cook Islands passed the Sea Bed Minerals (SBM) Act.<ref name="sbma">{{Cite web|date=June 17, 2019|access-date=April 29, 2025|title=Sea Bed Minerals Act 2019 |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cca30fab2cf793ec6d94096/t/5d3f683993ea3f0001b7379c/1564436729995/Seabed+Minerals+Act+2019|work=Clerk of the Parliament}}</ref> 

In 2022, the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) granted three exploration licenses for polymetallic nodules within their [[Exclusive Economic Zone]] to private companies Cobalt (CIC) Limited, Moana Minerals Limited and Cook Islands Investment Company (CIIC) Seabed Resources Limited, which is co-owned by the Cook Islands Government. The licenses expire in 2027.<ref name="Carstens">{{Cite web|last=Carstens|first=Halfdan|date=September 22, 2022|access-date=April 29, 2025|title=The very first licences for nodule exploration |url=https://geoexpro.com/the-very-first-licences-for-nodule-exploration/  |work=Geo Expro}}</ref>

In 2025, the Cook Islands announced that it had signed a five-year agreement with China focused on exploration and research into seabed minerals.<ref name="Inayatullah">{{cite news |last=Inayatullah |first=Saim Dušan |date=February 22, 2025 |access-date=April 29, 2025|title=Cook Islands announces deep sea minerals deal with China |url=https://www.dw.com/en/cook-islands-announces-deep-sea-minerals-deal-with-china/a-71711275 |work=[[Deutsche Welle]]}}</ref>