Press Release

PM Opens New Melsisi Water Supply

The Melsisi water supply system on Pentecost Island was officially opened yesterday by the Prime Minister Hon Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, alongside, Minister for Land and Natural Resources, Hon Rick Tchamako Mahe, Australia’s Head of the Office of the Pacific, Elizabeth Peak, Australia’s High Commissioner to Vanuatu, H.E. Max Willis with Vice President of

Penama Province, Hon Davidson Nakou and Chief Olivier Virekokon.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Salwai thanked Australia for the ongoing development support to Vanuatu to recover from recent cyclones. "It reflects the core concept of the government's national recovery framework of building back better to ensure sustainable and resilient infrastructure across the country."

Ms Peak also addressed the community and congratulated all those involved. "The project embodies so many of the good practices that characterise the Vanuatu-Australia development partnership, including delivering high quality infrastructure."

The system was built by a local company, employing local community members and will be maintained by members of the community who are successfully accredited with their Certificate 2 in Plumbing. This ensures the availability of skilled technicians to repair and maintain the system when needed.

The new water supply system was also built to be climate-resilient. The water tanks are secured with metal frames and the distribution lines are buried under the ground to protect them from extreme weather events and to keep the water cool and hygienic.

Source: Australian High Commission Vanuatu

Opening new Dispensary

The Prime Minister Hon. Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, alongside the Australian Deputy High Commissioner Emily Fisher, recently inaugurated the new Ranmawat dispensary on Pentecost Island aimed at enhancing healthcare access for local communities. T

his facility is part of a broader initiative to improve health services in rural areas, reflecting the strong partnership between Vanuatu and Australia.

The opening of the dispensary is expected to provide essential medical services, increase health education, and promote wellness in the region, demonstrating a commitment to improving the quality of life for the local community

Prime Minister meets Head of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

On the 4th October 2024, the Hon Prime Minister met with the Head of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Mr. Mathias Cormann.

The purpose of this meeting was the Hon Prime Minister to seek clarification, guidance and assistance on Vanuatu's blacklist Status and the difficulties it faces in Corresponding Banking.

The meeting was very positive.

The Head of OECD explained the complexities surrounding this issue which is very critical to Vanuatu's economy and offered to assist the Government to positively navigate through this matter.

PM Salwai Meets AIRBUS delegation

On the 3th October 2024, the Hon Prime Minister met with Dr. Fabien Menant, Senior Vice-President Public Affairs France; Mr. Mexind Utomo, International Governmental Affairs Director and Ms. Nathalie Donnard, Civil Affairs Director of AIRBUS.

During the meeting the Hon Prime Minister provided an update on the Air Vanuatu Status and queried on the possibility of further engaging with AIRBUS. Response from the AIRBUS delegation was very positive.

Later this year, AIRBUS will send its Representative based in the Solomon Islands to Port Vila to further engage with relevant authorities and officials to materialize the discussions.

The AIRBUS delegation has also offered to engage with ATR on behalf of the Government of Vanuatu on the possibility of acquiring an ATR Aircraft.

Hon. PM Raises concern to BRED Bank's International Director

The Hon Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai, raised concerns when he met the Bred Bank International Director Mr Regis Barriac over the Bank's extensive bureaucracy, demanding rules and processes now causing reluctance by the Vanuatu population in opening Bank accounts and preventing grassroots, in particular farmers, from investing and acquiring loans from the Bank.

The Hon Prime Minister further shared with the Director Vanuatu's Blacklist issue and sought advice and assistance in getting the Government cleared. The Hon Prime Minister also seized the opportunity to query on the offer made by the Bank to fund Vanuatu's Diplomatic presence in Paris.

The Director in response confirmed BRED's commitment to engage with AFD and the Bank of France to assist the Reserve Bank and the Government in rescuing Vanuatu from the Blacklist Status. Bred has done the same in Djibouti and confirmed it's commitment to assist Vanuatu in this regard given Vanuatu is BRED's first international country of investment followed by Djibouti.

The BRED Director further confirmed that he will undertake a mission to Port Vila to further explore the issues raised by the Hon Prime Minister and have the bureaucracy issues resolved to ensure BRED Bank remains Vanuatu's first bank of choice.

BRED Bank's commitment is also in line with President Macron's vision to strengthen France's presence in the arc of the Pacific through the reopening of the AFD presence in the Pacific Island Countries.