Mr. Lionel Kaluat, Chairman of VIPA (Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority) Board announced that following a full week’s discussion with Mr. Peter Chen (Chairman of G8 Consultants Pty Ltd & Sabina Corporation Limited) from Brisbane, the VIPA and G8 Consultants have identified the following projects be given priority:
(1) Alibaba Lighthouse Hotel – Pango Point
The establishment of a unique themed hotel on a prime 10-acre site at Pango Point that would become Vanuatu’s most recognizable landmark building. This icon would be of nation significance as its tourism value to Vanuatu would be immense. The themed lighthouse structure will house 60-executive suites with conference and other amenities. The hotel design will also have special security features.

(2) SME Platform – VIPA Website
The establishment of a SME (small medium enterprise) platform to facilitate the introduction of citizens of Vanuatu and foreign investors to each other and to investments and other activities of mutual benefit. The SME platform is focused to identify opportunities such as geese farming, food vans, noodle making machine, sugar cane juicer, and many other value-added food products through dehydration process of local fruits and seafood. The aim is to promote SME “partnerships“ between the foreign investor and the local entrepreneur. Seed capital, if required, would be promoted via crowdfunding media.

(3) Wellness Resort & Eco Village
The establishment of a wellness resort & eco village development in each the six provinces where sustainable and eco-friendly technologies would be utilized such as local building materials (coconut timber), hemprete (shredded hemp stalk) for walls, floors & roofs, alternative fuel, compost toilets, and fresh water making machines. The key objective of these developments is to allow remote village land owners to participate in Vanuatu’s tourism by obtaining a direct benefit in the resort activities – building construction, food production, and local employment.

(4) Low-Cost Housing
G8 Consultants have come up with modular housing system that is cyclone category 5 compliant and low cost. These dwellings will initially be used in the wellness resort & eco village developments; and later for general housing throughout Vanuatu.
“Mr. Chen’s G8 Consultants Pty Ltd has over 35 years of expertise in property development and SME business ventures. His ability to create innovative projects is both exciting and appropriate for Vanuatu” said Mr. Lionel Kaluat, Chairman of VIPA.
“We are very fortunate to have Mr. Chen’s experience and unique understanding of Melanesian business culture to provide VIPA with guidance and assistance in identifying SME opportunities that are suitable to Vanuatu citizens; both in terms of limited capital amount and operational capabilities.
“Mr. Chen has been involved with the Pacific Island nations for over 50 years. His co-board members include Mr. Sam Abal, the former Prime Minister of PNG, Mr. Dutlef Suzler, the former German Consul in Brisbane, and Mr. Chris Walsh, the Principal of Lightwave Architects in Brisbane” added Mr. Kaluat.

Mr. Bruce Kalotrip, a local lawyer and spokesperson for the owner of the Pango site invited G8 Consultants Pty Ltd and/or Sabina Corporation Limited to help develop the project.

“A proper feasibility assessment would need to be done but before we waste any time and money, we need to ascertain if such development would be supported by all the stakeholders (i.e. owners, village chiefs, local council, community, and government). Equity participation can then be determined once the project feasibility assessment is complete. We need to do things properly and there are many issues that also need to investigate technical issues such as infrastructure services, building materials to be used, and method of construction. We need take into account that this is a high-rise structure and the effects from seawater” said Mr. Chen.

“The unique lighthouse hotel concept was discussed with the Chief Roland Kaluatman and Deputy Chief Kalorip Sope from Pango Village, and the land owners at a luncheon meeting last week. The proposal was well received and the Chiefs have given their support for the themed development, said VIPA’s Chairman.
“The next step is to seek government support for the proposal.
We need to demonstrate to foreign investors that Vanuatu Government has the vision and a strong desire to see such an icon be developed,” emphasized Mr. Kaluat.

Mr. Chen arrived in Port Vila last Tuesday and has been in various discussions and meetings non-stop arranged by the Acting CEO from VIPA, Mr. Raymond Vuti.

“We have already identified numerous opportunities that would be suitable for Vanuatu. These SME ventures are simple only require a small amount capital (i.e. less than Vt 500,000) to get started.

“VIPA believes that SME is of strategic importance to get the local community to move forward and improve their economic status,” said Mr. Vuti.

“VIPA has also introduced Mr. Chen to many different senior officials from government departments and private organizations. Mr. Chen also had discussion the Vanuatu Representative from Economic & Commercial Counsellor’s Office of the Embassy of People’s Republic of China, concerning SME business migrants from Shanghai; sister city to Port Vila.
“Mr. Chen has advised that VIPA should be more proactive in the promotion of SME opportunities and has recommend that a website be introduced as soon as possible.

“Other topics discussed with Mr. Chen included industrial hemp; tertiary hospital; transportation assembly plant; rubbish vehicles; and other small equipment such as generators and small trucks. Mr. Chen introduced so many opportunities but VIPA has agreed to: lighthouse hotel; SME platform; wellness resort & eco village; and low-cost housing.