New eBusiness link aims to cut red tape for investors
Vanuatu has taken a major step toward streamlining business and investment processes with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to develop the country’s first Joint System Interface (JSI), a digital platform aimed at reducing red tape and creating a more investor-friendly environment.
The agreement, signed on Thursday, August 22, brings together four key institutions, the Vanuatu Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (VFIPA), the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC), the Department of Customs and Inland Revenue (DCIR), and the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU).
The new platform, to be called Vanuatu eBusiness Link, will act as a one-stop digital shop for investors to complete business registration and compliance processes more efficiently. Officials say the system will eventually be expanded to cater to existing and local businesses, paving the way for a more connected and modernized business environment.
Minister of Tourism, Trade, Commerce and Ni-Vanuatu Business, Samson Samsen, hailed the initiative as a major milestone for the country.
“This is another milestone that supports the Government’s policy to establish a Rapid Business and Investment Machinery, or One-Stop Shop,” Minister Samsen said. “The Vanuatu Business e-Link will create a friendlier environment for investors, reducing long delays in registration processes and addressing challenges that businesses have faced for years. I encourage other key government institutions to join this system so that together we can continue building a stronger business climate.”
The initiative is supported by PACER Plus, a regional trade and development agreement focused on increasing inclusive foreign direct investment and improving the enabling environment for businesses across the Pacific.
Officials emphasised that integrating key government agencies into the system will be critical for its success, ensuring smoother processes and stronger support for both local and foreign investors who play a vital role in driving economic growth.
The development of the Vanuatu eBusiness Link aligns with the National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) 2016–2030, specifically its technology and innovation pillar, which calls for the digital transformation of government services and a more efficient, connected economy.
VFIPA Chief Executive Officer Raymond Vuti, VFSC Commissioner Branan Garae, DCIR Director Harold Tarosa, and PACER Plus representative Michael Ligo all reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the system’s successful rollout.
Once operational, the platform is expected to enhance transparency, reduce bureaucracy, and promote a more inclusive, private sector-led growth for Vanuatu’s economy.
