Department of External Trade Vanuatu

22/09/2016

September 21/2016 – The Department of External Trade in collaboration with the OCTA (office of the Chief Trade Advisor) held a 1 day consultation at the Holiday Inn in Port Vila, to provide update on the negotiations of the PACER Plus agreement. Participants were representatives from civil society, government officials, political leaders and Ni Vanuatu citizens who showed interest in the current status of the Pacer trade agreement. The department of External Trade is expected to provide further consultations in Vila, Santo and Tanna, and invites the general public at large to participate in these consultations.

15/06/2016

Trade in Services Training Program for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), 6 - 10 June 2016, Nadi, Fiji

The University of Adelaide organised a one week Trade in Services Training Program for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), held in Natadola Bay, Fiji from 6 to 10 June 2016. There were a number 25 participants in the pacific by which 10 are from Vanuatu.
The University of Adelaide Executive Director, Keith Wilson with his opening statement raise that this was the first time, the University organise this workshop with a number of participants from each countries. Professor Shandre Thangavelu was the main presenter during this training, he is an active researcher on human capital development, technology transfer, foreign direct investment, trade, government infrastructure investment, productivity and economic growth.
The participants had builded their capacities in understanding the importance of trade in services and how the world is moving towards trade in service developments. Trade in Service is important for developing & Least Developing Countries (LDC) economic growth. Participants go through the four mode of supply that measure services as listed below:
Mode 1: Cross border supply – Service are delivered from one country to another by emails or telephone line calls.
Mode 2: Consumption abroad – Services delivered to consumers from another country, eg, Tourism, education, healthcare etc.
Mode 3: Commercial presence – Services delivered by a service provider through commercial presence in another country – FDI
Mode 4: Movement of natural persons – Services delivered by movement of a service provider as natural person.
There is certainty that liberalisation matters in our world today for an economic to growth. Case studies have shown that liberalization in the services sector creates significant linkages within the domestic economy and also in supporting the manufacturing sector in the regional and global production supply- chain and the services sector itself, as well as agriculture. Size does not matter for an economic to grow, not only economic space increase but social space needs to increase for the welfare growth in our economy. A country needs policy reform, institution strategy, regulations to support competition and open up economy to grow and capture the growth. Government are in need to support workers to increase productivity, higher levels of investment in education, including through reform and foreign participation are important.
It is important for countries to contact case study to see how the value chain of services works in other countries, see the examples of other countries, learn from their mistakes and develop the right policies and strategies for our country. Regionalism is about creating linkages in the pacific islands, production networks, no more individual, countries linkages and connectivity is important for an economy to grow. Therefore Regional Trade Agreements are important for pacific island countries, liberalizing trade and connect to this supply- chain activities for the development in our economy.

13/06/2016

Non State Actors and Private sectors in the region convened over the weekend to discuss content of the Pacer Plus Agreement. Vanuatu was represented by representative from the Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce in this dialogue.

10/06/2016

MSG Trade Ministers Approve MSGTA3

The 5th Trade Ministers Meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) held in Port Vila, Vanuatu yesterday endorsed the conclusion of negotiations for the new Melanesian Free Trade Agreement. The meeting was chaired by Hon. Milner Tozaka, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Solomon Islands.

The meeting was attended by Hon. Richard Maru, Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry of Papua New Guinea and Hon. Bruno Leingkone Tau, Minister for Foreign Affairs, External Trade and International Cooperation of Vanuatu. Fiji was represented by Ms. Seema Sharma, Director of Trade, while Mr. Yvon Faua represented the Front de Liberational the Nationale Kanak et Solcialiste (FLNKS). Senior Trade, Investment and State Law officials from Member countries were also present.
In stressing the significance of the meeting, Hon. Tozaka said, “The ultimate milestone to be achieved following the series of intense negotiations between MSG Members over the last three years is the establishment of the Melanesian Free Trade Area by 2017.” A policy environment that facilitates freer trading between Members would enhance Melanesian Sub-regional Economic Integration as aspired to under the MSG 2038 Prosperity for All Plan. Hon Tozaka added that the key enablers for the Free Trade Area would be the Melanesian Free Trade Agreement and the MSG Private Sector Development Strategy.

MSG Secretariat’s Director General, Mr. Amena Yauvoli, congratulated Members for their contributions through extensive national stakeholder participation that helped shape the Revised MSG Trade Agreement as well as the Private Sector Development Strategy. “The approval of the Private Sector Development Strategy will go a long way in supporting the revised Trade Agreement as intra-MSG or cross-border investment flows are stimulated and facilitated,” he said.

The Ministers endorsed the revisions made to MSG Trade Agreement which would now be extended from covering goods alone to also include trade in services, labour mobility and cross-border investments. The Trade Agreement will be reviewed further by State Law officials during a legal scrubbing workshop to be held also in Port Vila on 26th-27th May 2016. The Ministers agreed that following the legal scrubbing, the Trade Agreement is to be signed by Leaders and subjected to national ratification processes before the Melanesian Free Trade Agreement enters into force by 1st January 2017.

The Ministers also endorsed the MSG Private Sector Development Strategy which is aimed at achieving higher, inclusive and sustainable growth through the development of the private sector. The hallmarks of the Strategy are the adoption of an inclusive approach to private sector development, unleashing rural entrepreneurship and heightening the resilience of the private sector to the impact of climate change.
The Ministers noted updates on the economic performance of Member countries as well as progress with the implementation of the MSG 2038 Prosperity for All Plan. They also noted reports on MSG’s Sectoral Development Programmes and Export Products Study as well as the outcomes of the MSG Aviation and Tourism Sectoral Dialogue.

In recognition of the potential economic benefits from cross-sectoral linkages, the Ministers supported initiatives that would strengthen sectoral linkages such as between Agriculture and Tourism.

Hon. Tozaka acknowledged the support of stakeholders across the Melanesian sub-region including Governments, business communities, civil society representatives, development partners and academics towards the MSG Secretariat’s ongoing guidance and advice to Members on the Trade Agreement and Private Sector Development Strategy.

“I particularly thank the European Union for its funding support through the Pacific Integration Technical Assistance Project, which is administered by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat,” Hon. Tozaka said. “We also welcome the prospects of further funding through the 11th European Development Fund which the MSG Secretariat is pursuing from the European Union through the Forum Secretariat and we look forward to consolidating a stronger partnership with the European Union and other prospective development partners,” he added.

Source: MSG Secretariat
26 May 2016
http://www.msgsec.info/…/1099-26-may-2016-msg-trade-ministe…

10/06/2016

SPECIAL ENVOYS FOR TRADE APPOINTED

The Government of Vanuatu through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has undertaken appointment of four special envoys to assist the Government in achieving its desired objectives. The Foreign Service Act gives power to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to appoint special envoys to represent the Republic of Vanuatu on specific matters and carry out functions as specified under the terms and conditions of their appointment. The newly appointed envoys are MP Albert Williams special envoy for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, MP Francois Chani special envoy for Economic and Trade Relations to Australia, New Zealand and Thailand, MP Jerome Ludvaune special envoy for LDC Graduation and MP Kalo Seule special envoy for Seasonal Employment and Labour Mobility.

On Tuesday 12 April 2016 the Department of External Trade with the support of Labor Department held briefings for MP Francois Chani and MP Kalo Seule on issues of Pacer Plus and the current seasonal workers program. In his remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs International Cooperation and External Trade Honorable Bruno Leingkone briefly outlined functions of both envoys. Special Envoy for Seasonal Employment and Labor Mobilityis responsible for identifying and negotiating new opportunities and arrangements for seasonal employment and labour mobility, advising Government on existing opportunities and assisting in liaising with Trade Commissioners. Special Envoy for Trade and Economic relations is responsible in assisting the Vanuatu Government in developing and promoting trade, investment and tourism opportunities, representing Vanuatu in the Australia-Vanuatu Business Council, advising on opportunities for expanding trade with Australia and negotiating with Thailand on development cooperation opportunities. The Honorable Minister then went on to stress the necessity for good cooperation between the departments and envoys to ensure that work on trade and seasonal workers can be progressed. He further expressed his desire for Vanuatu to maintain good reputation in the seasonal workers program to ensure that Vanuatu maintains and grows working opportunities that the Government of Vanuatu would have otherwise be unable to provide.

The Commissioner of Labor Mr. Lionel Kalwat gave a presentation on the current Seasonal Workers Program into New Zealand and Australia. The seasonal workers program began in 2007 with the RSE scheme that sent workers into New Zealand. In 2012 Australia also opened its doors with the SWP for seasonal employment. By 2015 Vanuatu had received an alarming 1.8 billion Vanuatu in remittance from seasonal employment and this figure is expected to increase by the end of 2016. The Director of External Trade Mr. Sumbue Antas then made a presentation on the current PACER Plus trade agreement that is being negotiated between Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Island Countries. Eleven (11) chapters in this agreement have been completed with a remaining few issues. The agreement is anticipated to be completed by July 2016. The Department of External Trade will continue to engage in necessary consultations with the Public and Private sector to ensure that national interest is represented at all times during negotiations.

In response to the Minister’s remarks and presentation made by the Commissioner of Labor and the Director of External Trade both Envoys responded vibrantly to issues that lie ahead and committed to doing their best to ensure that desired objectives are met. Both Envoys will be required to start planning their work around this year’s programs and MFAICET will be supporting their efforts through any technical support as may be deemed necessary.

14/01/2015

https://www.scribd.com/doc/252569896/Introduction-to-EPA

An introduction to the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)

14/01/2015

During the eighth WTO Ministerial Conference held in Geneva in December 2011, WTO members adopted a waiver allowing developing and developed member states to provide preferential treatment to services and service suppliers of least developed country (LDC) members. This waiver is claimed to benefit 3...

14/01/2015

Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, called on Pacific Health Ministers to make important decisions for the health of all Pacific people during the opening ceremony of the Tenth Pacific Health Ministers Meeting (PHMM) in Apia, Samoa this morning.