Investment Environment

All potential Foreign Investors who are interested in doing business in islands of Vanuatu are most welcomed here. The country has an attractive investment environment that is highly competitive in the pacific region. It has an almost absolute industrial calm and a peaceful environment with a high standard of living where investors from all over the world can live and do business for profits and pleasure.

The incoming foreign direct investment continues to reflect the positive growth the country is going through. Because of the appropriate conducive environment, we call Vanuatu an Investor's dream of Paradise. You will only experience this if you live and do business with us.

Investment Fact

Vanuatu has developed an excellent investment reputation as an all round investment location in the Pacific region. In particular it has:

• Good infrastructure links around the country and the rest of the world
• Easy access to financial services
• Professional support from the Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority, and other business companies in Port Vila, which makes business relatively an easy thing to do.
• Investor friendly tax structure.
• Company incorporations and subsequent annual fees are among the lowest in the Pacific.

New Developments

Our contineous strife towards improving Vanuatu's competitiveness for FDIs in the Region has seen VIPA with the assistance of the IFC (International Finance Corpoaration) VIPA has already completed the first phase of a project to improve as well as streamline some of its application processes. This is good news for our potential foreign investors and it also means that applications now take only 15 working days to process instead of 30 days previously.

The second phase, which involves Review of the VIPA Act, commenced (Nov 2009) and is expceted to be completed in 2010.

International Strength

Vanuatu's strengths within the Pacific context are:

• One of the most attractive investment locations in the South Pacific region
• Diplomatic and Trade relations
• Privilege access to major markets
• Membership in regional and international alliances
• Sophisticated modern communication links with the rest of the world
• A stable and peaceful environment makes this country a highly desirable business location.

Regional Strength

Vanuatu's regional strengths include:

• Membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), an strong organisation formed between the Melanesian countries (Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu), with the Fresnch territory of New Caledonia (Kanaks) being granted "Observer Status" in the organization, to trade freely with each other.
• neighbouring traditional trading partners such as Australia and New Zealand as well as New Caledonia. This renders great bonus to the business community in the country.

Socio-political Environment

The Republic of Vanuatu is a parliamentary democracy. Independence was obtained in 1980 after some 74 years of joint rule by Britain and France.

After more than 29 years of political Independence Vanuatu has had its share of political instability. However, its democracy is now maturing. Political stability experienced in the last 6-9 years has been welcomed by the private sector.

Democracy still has its meaning in Vanuatu, and it is for this reason that foreign investors need not fear.