Pacific

Cook Islands promoting its vast seabed mineral reserves

15:36 pm on 4 April 2011

The Cook Islands deputy prime minister, Tom Marsters, is travelling to London to promote his country's vast seabed mineral reserves.

He says the Cook Islands needs to market itself.

Mr Marsters is accompanied by chairman of the Seabed Minerals committee, Ben Ponia, and both will attend the Commonwealth Natural Resources Forum.

The two will also be holding side meetings with Commonwealth Secretariat officials to discuss the contracting of a national mineral resources adviser.

The Secretariat is managing the recruitment process of the advisor and it's understood it will partially fund his or her employment.