Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, Vanuatu

22/06/2026

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) has rolled out its first Fuel Subsidy Payment on aviation, aimed at supporting the sustainability of air services across Vanuatu.

The first payment under this Fuel Subsidy was successfully disbursed last week to Air Vanuatu, marking an important step in the Government's continued commitment to strengthening the aviation sector and ensuring reliable air connectivity for the people of Vanuatu.

Further updates on the subsidy program will be shared in due course.

17/06/2026

VFSC sets record with dividend payment to gov’t |

The Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) has recently paid VT140,571,690 as its final dividend for the 2025 financial year to the government.

The payment covers the period from November to December 2025, while VT436,616,766 collected from January to October was paid to the government in November last year. This brings VFSC’s total contribution to VT577,188,446, the highest payment.

Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister of Finance Johnny Koanapo received the payment cheque from the Chairman of the VFSC Board, Daniel Yahwa, and VFSC Commissioner Branan Karae during a ceremony.

Koanapo commended the VFSC for its outstanding performance and strong contribution to the government fiscal basket at a time when the country continues to recover from the impacts of the December 2024 earthquake.

“This is a significant achievement and a clear demonstration that with the right leadership, focus, and commitment, greater results are achievable,” he said in a statement.

The DPM said this performance places VFSC among the top-performing state-owned entities of the government.

Koanapo said that the VT577 million payment substantially exceeded the Commission’s projected target of approximately VT500 million and represents the continuation of a strong upward trend in VFSC’s contributions over the last five years.

The government has made it clear that it expects all state-owned enterprises to pay annual returns. Some, like Ifira Ports Development Services and VFSC, have been making payments, while others have failed to do so.

The DPM also acknowledged VFSC’s forward strategic planning and strong contributions to the country’s compliance with domestic and international regulatory standards, and supports the Commission’s ongoing efforts in the development of new financial products, namely digital financial platforms and other key areas in line with government priority focus.

17/06/2026

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Finance and Economic Management, Honourable Johnny Koanapo Rasou, visited the Vanuatu Consul General’s Office in Sydney, where he met with Consul General Mr. Donald Pelam to discuss enhancing consular services for ni-Vanuatu citizens and expanding trade facilitation for Vanuatu-made products in the Australian market.

The official visit underscored the Vanuatu government’s commitment to strengthening its diplomatic and commercial presence in Australia’s largest economic hub. During the meeting, DPM Koanapo acknowledged the Consulate’s critical role in supporting the growing ni-Vanuatu community in New South Wales, including seasonal workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, students, and residents.

“Our citizens in Australia must feel connected to Port Vila. Consular protection, welfare support, and responsive visa and documentation services are not optional, they are a duty,” said DPM Koanapo. “Mr. Pelam and his team are on the front line, and this visit confirms our full support for their work.”

The discussions also focused on trade facilitation and the opportunity for opening up investment opportunities for Vanuatu Made commodities. With Australia remaining one of Vanuatu’s most significant trading partners, both officials explored practical pathways to increase the volume and value of Vanuatu-made goods, including kava, agricultural products, beef, cocoa, and handicrafts, into Australian retail and wholesale channels.

“We are not simply exporting raw materials. We are building ‘Made in Vanuatu’ as a mark of quality, sustainability, and provenance,” said Mr. Donald Pelam, Vanuatu Consul General in Sydney.

“The Deputy Prime Minister’s visit signals a clear directive: remove bottlenecks, support ni-Vanuatu exporters, and open more doors in the Australian market.”

16/06/2026

Easing the Pressure: VT192 Million Fuel Subsidy for Electricity |

Good news for households and businesses! The Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, working with the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation and the Utilities Regulatory Authority, has rolled out a VT192 million subsidy to help cushion rising electricity costs.

Approved under Council of Ministers Decision No. 18 of 2026, this support responds to the impact of global fuel price increases on electricity generation across Vanuatu. The subsidy applies to all regulated electricity providers UNELCO Engie, VUI Ltd, and VANPAWA and will help keep tariffs more affordable as fuel costs rise.

The subsidy takes effect this month, with its impact reflected in the July 2026 billing period, and will continue until the allocated funding is fully utilised.

The Government remains committed to keeping electricity services affordable and accessible for all Ni-Vanuatu.

02/06/2026

21/05/2026

Notis i stap ko long ol Bus owners, Taxi Owners, mo Common Pablik Transport Owners

Fes roll aot blong Fuel Subsidy Payment i ko aot finis.
Bae yu risivim wan SMS lo phone blo yu lo namba ia : +153

Yu wei yu owner blong wan common Pablik Transport, Bus, mo taxi, plis checkem SMS lo phone blo yu.

Taem yu Risivim SMS long Code +153, Plis ko long Vanuatu Post blo kolektem mani blong yu. Taem yu ko, karem Nasonal ID, Binis laesens, Transport permit blo 2026.

12/05/2026

Kavman I statem implementation blong VT 766 Million Fuel Sapot |

PRESS RELEASE

Government Starts Implementation of the Vt 766 Million Fuel Support Package

The Government of Vanuatu announced a Vt 766 million fuel support package to help ni-Vanuatu households, transport operators, and essential services cope with rising global fuel prices. This was announced by the Prime Minister after its approval by the Council of Ministers on 30th April 2026.

The package is funded under emergency provisions of the Public Finance and Economic Management Act and covers five areas: inter-island shipping (Vt 114 million), taxis, buses, and common transport vehicles (Vt 150 million), electricity generation (Vt 192 million), aviation (Vt 110 million), and a Vt 200 million reserve held in case food prices require a further response.

Initially the Government will move to quickly issue payments to buses, taxis and common transport vehicle operators.

Direct payments to these will be made through Vanuatu Post. Taxi owners will receive Vt 25,000, bus owners Vt 50,000, and common transport vehicle owners Vt 50,000. This will be a one-off payment to help cover the increases in the fuel costs. To qualify, operators must hold a valid 2026 vehicle permit and business license, both obtained before 31 April 2026, and a National ID card. The Government will identify those operators which meet these requirements, and payments will be sent to the phone number on file with permit records. Operators are encouraged to ensure their registration details are current, and details will be provided for those who are missed to provide documentation and receive support.

Electricity providers, UNELCO, VanPawa, and VUI, and aviation operators, Air Vanuatu, Unity, Air Taxi, and Belair, will receive monthly per-litre fuel subsidies paid by the Department of Finance and Treasury, based on reported purchases. For electricity, these subsidies will be reflected in regulated prices set by the Utilities Regulatory Authority (URA) as soon as possible. More details on this will be provided soon by the Department of Finance and Treasury in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management.

Further details on support for public transport boat operators and inter-island shipping will be announced in the following week.

All eligible recipients are encouraged to check the DOFT website in the coming days for further details. This support will continue to be reviewed to ensure it is a good balance between sufficient to provide help to our people and keeping within our fiscal rules.