State-owned enterprises (SOEs) place a significant and unsustainable strain on the economies of Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga. They absorb large amounts of scarce capital on which they provide very low returns. This study reveals the core levers of SOE reform and the rapid progress that can be made in implementing them where the political will to do so exists. While the study focuses on three countries that are heavily involved in SOE reform and have broadly similar SOE portfolios and legislative frameworks, the core lessons from their experience are applicable throughout the Pacific region.

Corporate governance of state-owned enterprises is a major challenge in many economies. These OECD Guidelines on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises serves as an international benchmark to help governments assess and improve the way they exercise ownership of these enterprise.