Natural Treasures Vanuatu hosted a special reception on Saturday, 30 May 2026, to celebrate the official soft launch of Vanuatu’s first sandalwood oil distillation facility. The event, held at First National Real Estate Office in Port Vila, brought together nine international investors, senior government officials, and local stakeholders to mark a landmark moment in Vanuatu’s economic development.
The event was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister of Vanuatu and Minister responsible for Finance, the Honourable Johnny Koanapo, who welcomed the delegation of investors and acknowledged their commitment to travelling long distances to reach Vanuatu. In his remarks, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed Vanuatu’s pride in the establishment of the sandalwood industry, noting that it represents a long-awaited breakthrough for local farmers and sandalwood planters who have spent years searching for a viable international market for their produce.

A total of nine investors, the majority travelling from Europe, attended the event. Among them was Mr. Peter Jäderberg, Founder and Managing Director of Jäderberg & Cie., who founded the group in 2010 and has committed an investment of nearly over 30 million Vatu to establish the sandalwood factory in Vanuatu. Mr. Jäderberg emphasised that the investment is driven not primarily by profit, but by a deep respect for the culture, nature, and people of Vanuatu, while underscoring the long-term sustainability goals of the project.

Investor Johan also expressed pride and satisfaction in working alongside VFIPA’s handholding services and the Government of Vanuatu, which supported the investment through all regulatory and compliance processes, ensuring a smooth establishment of the facility in accordance with Vanuatu’s laws.

The successful establishment of Vanuatu’s first sandalwood distillation facility is a testament to the power of inter-agency collaboration. The Office of the Vanuatu Foreign Investment Promotion Agency wishes to formally acknowledge the contributions of the partner agencies whose expertise, regulatory oversight, and cooperative spirit were essential to making this investment a reality: Department of Forestry, for its oversight of sandalwood resource management, licensing, and ensuring sustainable harvesting practices in line with Vanuatu’s forestry regulations.Department of Industry for supporting the industrial establishment process and facilitating the necessary approvals for the distillation facility, and Department of Environment for ensuring the project meets Vanuatu’s environmental standards and for its role in promoting responsible and sustainable development practices. And the First National Real Estate for generously hosting the reception and providing a fitting venue to celebrate this important occasion.

The launch of Vanuatu’s sandalwood oil distillation facility marks a proud step forward in transforming the nation’s natural resources into a globally competitive, proudly Vanuatu-made brand and industry