Kiribati is one of the most remote and geographically dispersed countries in the world, consisting of 33 coral atolls spread over 3.5 million square kilometres of ocean - an area larger than India. Solomon Islands is geographically splintered with 1,000 small islands and atolls. It has a low population density, with half a million people dispersed across 90 inhabited islands, 78 per cent of whom reside in rural areas, and is the poorest country in the Pacific when measured in terms of Gross National Income (GNI) per capita. Apart from PNG and to some extent Solomon Islands and Fiji, they have limited natural resources, narrowly based economies, large distances to major markets, and vulnerability to exogenous shocks - all of which can affect growth and have often led to a high degree of economic volatility. They are also some of the most vulnerable states in the world to the effects of climate change and natural disasters. Given this, it is generally recognised that sustained development progress will require long-term co-operation between international partners and governments.