Welcome to the Pacific Economic Survey 2009. First launched in 2008, the Survey is an annual publication that provides an overview and update of growth and development in Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste. Pacific Economic Surveys also provide a detailed analysis of themes relating to particular driver or drivers of economic growth. Pacific Economic Surveys cover the 14 island member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum, as well as Timor-Leste due to its proximity to the Pacific and the similarity of many of its development challenges. The theme addressed by the Pacific Economic Survey 2008 was 'Connecting the Region'. As such it was concerned with communication, shipping and aviation. Improvements in these areas are vital if the Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste are to achieve and sustain high rates of economic growth and, in turn, progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). A key lesson from the spike in food and fuel prices in 2008 and the global recession is that Timor-Leste and Pacific island countries need to strengthen their resilience to external economic shocks by better engaging with the world. Such engagement has many dimensions. They include responding more effectively to global trade opportunities, taking greater advantage of labour mobility and dealing better with changes in food and fuel prices. Each of these issues is examined in this survey. The analytical theme of the Pacific Economic Survey 2009 is, therefore, 'Engaging with the World'.