Public Private Partnership should fast-track VIPA Bill process for Parliament
A significant achievement was made on Thursday 24th January at the Melanesian Hotel conference centre when VIPA and members of Vanuatu’s Private Sector agreed on forming a Public Private Partnership Group to help fast-track the process of achieving a new Bill for VIPA.
As a way forward from its Bill consultation to the Private Sector, the VIPA Board and Management with the support of the Director General of the Ministry of Trade, recognize that working together with the Private Sector on achieving the final changes to the outstanding VIPA Bill is crucial.
The PPP Group will be finalized this week and the working group will start with smoothing out the current draft of the VIPA proposed Bill. This process will include looking over various recommendations that have been put forward by the private sector and lodging the final inputs with the State Law Office. The Bill will then be prepared for presentation and tabling in the March session of this year by the Honourable Minister for Trade, Bob Loughman.
The VIPA Bill is expected to bring about major reform within the Authority with a focus on promotion, facilitation and monitoring services. The Bill will push the organization’s Board and Management to be more focused on policy advocacy matters whilst providing genuine facilitation and aftercare roles that should encourage and boost investor confidence in doing business in Vanuatu.
In his brief statement during the consultation, DG Roy Mickey Joy made it clear that although VIPA and Private Sector relations in the past have been rocky, he is determined to see that this will change with more participation to ensure government policies and plans are achieved.
The VIPA Board and Management were also reminded by DG Joy on the long delay towards achieving the Bill and key reforms within VIPA itself. DG Joy is determined that under his leadership VIPA will improve its services towards investors and moreover undertake vigorous promotional and investment generation work.
The new VCCI President, Shaun Gilchrist, has welcomed this working partnership and says he is keen on seeing continued relations between VIPA and VCCI.
Minister Loughman has instructed that VIPA along with key stakeholders achieve the final draft of the Bill to be table in March.
