PRESS RELEASE : DATE: 15 AUG 2019
  

Background

Concern have been raised that number of retail shops owned and or operated by foreign investors or foreign nationals outside the Port Vila confine boundary or the Port Vila CBD is increasing. This gives strong competition against the retail shops own by Ni Vanuatu citizen and putting them out of business.
The Port Vila Municipality restricted the location of all retail shops owned by foreign investors within the Port Vila confine boundary or Port Vila CBD only- within the Kumul Highway now Lini Highway.

Joint Investigation Team Composition

The investigation has be conducted by a joint investigation team comprising of inspectors and officers from the following agencies:-
1. VIPA;
2. Department of Customs & Inland Revenue;
3. Department of Labour and
4. Department of Immigration.

Scope and coverage

The joint investigation team physically inspected all retail shops located outside Port Vila CBD boundary that are owned and operated by foreign nationals and completed the investigation tests in all retail shops inspected in the targeted areas.

Summary of Findings

Forty-Eight (48) retail shops altogether have been inspected in different business locations outside Port Vila CBD. Of this total:

• 43 of these retail shop are owned by Chinese nationals who had become Ni-Vanuatu citizens- they are naturalized citizens (NC)

Findings of this joint operation provide useful information to the general public about the concern that foreign investors are operating wholesale and retail shops outside of the CBD which is illegal. Findings confirm that this is UNTRUE.

By law, when a foreign investor becomes a citizen, he or she has the same right as an indigenous Ni Vanuatu.

VIPA will continue to take lead in this exercise to ensure public is well informed on the issues and other related matter.

Contact
Minnie Edmanley
Public Relations and Media Officer
VIPA
+678 24441
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