VFIPA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BUILDING : CHINA-BASED PACIFIC TRADE & INVEST (PTI)

Maintaining, developing and strengthening partnerships with strategic partners is critical in today’s business environment. Particularly, given the current situation where risks and uncertainties remain high due to global and domestic challenges.

The Vanuatu Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (VFIPA) is pro-actively pursuing this partnership approach as part of its long-term strategic efforts in adapting to the new normal that will contribute to the building back better initiatives from the Government.

China-based Pacific Trade invest (PTI) has been and remains one of VFIPA’s key strategic partners regarding investment promotion and facilitation. One of the key reasons why this relationship continues to remain strong was the timely and pro activeness the Agency has demonstrated when dealing with investor inquiries. Whether it is through emails, telephones and virtual discussions, VFIPA showed commitment and great interest to support the potential investors with their investment needs – confirmed by Jane Ma, Head of Investments, Pacific Trade Invest, China.

Ms Jane Ma’s visit to Vanuatu marks the end of her visit to the Pacific Island countries. Prior to Vanuatu, she has visited PNG, Solomon Islands and Fiji with the purpose of promoting and engaging investment opportunities in the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) in connection with the China One-Belt-Road Initiative.

China’s Pacific Trade Investments Head will be visiting a number of Government departments and Agencies to discuss the purpose of her visit. From an investment perspective, information collected will be very useful for developing project opportunities in collaboration with VFIPA’s investment promotion team specific to China investors. The Agency welcomes Ms Jane Ma’s visitations and discussions as it is in line with the current shift in its promotional approach – more sector-focused and targeted.

The key sectors that Ms Jane ma is focusing on during her visit and discussions are (i) Digital Economy, (ii) Green Energy, (iii) Agriculture & Fisheries and (iv) Aquaculture. VFIPA looks forward to a fruitful discussion and collection of information from the Department and Agencies as this will serve as a springboard for other opportunities such as establishing external market access for exports.