Small businesses to be reserved for local people only?

Why are small businesses not being earmarked for our local people instead of by foreign investment? That was the question asked at the Koutu Nui community visioning meeting held in Ngatangiia on Monday night.
For instance, the hire car business could be owned and run by local people instead of people from overseas. Cafes are another small business that are affordable to run.
The idea of certain types of small businesses being earmarked for Cook Islanders as being smaller and more affordable won some support. One later pointed out that in fact there are such guidelines or legislation already in place where certain industries are reserved for local businesses to give them a chance to own their own business. He is concerned that the Foreign Investment Board are failing in their duty to our local community because they are doing quite the opposite and actively seeking interest from foreign investors to take over the businesses in the Cook Islands.

Herald Issue 463 10 June
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