Economic activity on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands is largely driven by service provision under contract to the Australian Government, with the public sector providing the majority of the employment, through administration, education, health and local government services.
Small businesses provide a range of goods and services including accommodation, tourism, workshop/mechanical services, gardening and cleaning.
The Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd is a large employer of Cocos Malay residents, and is responsible for management of the supermarkets on Home and West Islands and the current public transport service on behalf of the Australian Government.
There is a small tourism sector on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, servicing bird-watching, kite-surfing and diving holiday makers as well as those seeking an island getaway holiday. The sector is constrained by the island’s infrastructure, the small number of tourist beds and the frequency of air services to and from the Islands.
The visitor economy beyond tourism is driven by service delivery and projects on the island. A major upgrade to the airfield commenced in late 2024, with works forecast to be complete by early 2028. Further details can be found on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Airfield Upgrade site.
The Indian Ocean Territories Regional Development Organisation (IOT RDO) is part of the Regional Development Australia (RDA) network. The IOT RDO team facilitate sustainable development in the IOT and build strong and confident local economies on both Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. For more information, please refer to the IOT RDO.
For further information about businesses operating on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, please refer to the IOT Business Directory.