Vanuatu is well known for its very peaceful environment, as part of its policy to encourage foreign investment, the Government of Vanuatu offers foreign investors an opportunity to operate under one of the most open and liberal systems in the world. With only very few limit on types of investment, Vanuatu welcome and encourage all legitimate non-speculative foreign investment.
Vanuatu is only an hour¡¯s flight from Noumea or Fiji, and only three hour¡¯s flight from Sydney, Australia. It has an excellent telecommunications service and a reliable infrastructure for business with a good choice of professional accounting and legal practices.
COUNTRY PROFILE
HOW TO GET THERE
INFRASTRUCTURE :
Electricity & Water (UNELCO - Union Electrique du Vanuatu)
The production and supply of electricity and water is provided in Port Vila by UNELCO including the electricity distrubution in Luganville.
Unelco Vanuatu LTD is a private company. UNELCO only has the concession to generate and distribute electricity in the two towns of Port Vila and Luganville including Malekula and Tanna and also a concession to the distribution of water supply in Port Vila. Outside of the 15km mark or on the other islands, anybody can produce and supply their own electricity and water.
After a plot of land has been allocated and the necessary land lease registration has taken place, it is necessary to apply to UNELCO for electric power connection.
Electricity Supply Rates
The connection fee is only provided on quotation
Connection Rate
Base rate domestic 39 vt/kwh
Business License Holders 29vt/kwh
High voltage24 vt/kwh
Water Supply Rates.
Water supply charge is a fixed rate of 58Vatu per cubic meter in Santo and range from 47.51 Vatu for up to 50 cubic metres to 61.75 Vatu for more than 200 cubic metres in Port Vila. The charges for the supply of water in the rural areas are not fixed and vary for each community.
For further information on the generation and supply of electricity and Water in Vanuatu please contact:
UNELCO (Union Electrique du Vanuatu) Ltd.
PO Box 26, Port Vila
Phone: +678 22211
Fax: +678 25011
Email: unelco@unelco.com.vu
Telecommunications
Telecommunications in Vanuatu is run by Telecom Vanuatu Ltd (TVL). TVL is a private company owned in equal shares by the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu, France Cables et Radio S.A. (France Telecom Group) and Cable & Wireless plc.
TVL also offers a wide range of business services: national and international data transmission, from 2.4 to 64 kbits/s, frame relay technology, installation and maintenance of PABX, facsimile machines and Mobile phones are available and can be rented or purchased.
The urban areas are well served by modern digital exchanges through a fully underground network, which offers greater security in the event of cyclones. TVL has also installed card phones in urban areas and on many islands to keep in touch with the rest of the world. Mobile phones are available and can be purchased.
GSM Digital Mobile Phone Coverage
TVL installed the Smile GSM Mobile Network in April 2002 which currently covers the Port Vila urban area. Expansion is underway and TVL plans to role out the GSM network to both Luganville in Santo and Norsup in Malekula by the conclusion of 2002.
GSM sim cards are available in two forms, Smile Premium and Smile Refil. Details and pricing of these can be found on the TVL Smile Website www.smile.com.vu
For further information regarding telecommunications is Vanuatu, please contact TVL on:
Telecom Vanuatu Ltd.
P.O. Box 146 www.tvl.com.vu
Phone: +678 22185 www.smile.com.vu
Fax: +678 22628
Commercial Services Smile MobileTelephony
Phone: +678 22005 Email:info@smile.com.vu
Fax: +678 22133
Email:sales@tvl.net.vu
Transportation
Transport
Driving in Vanuatu is on the right hand side of the road.
Vanuatu's main municipalities are serviced by an extremely effective network of privately owned taxis and buses. In the rural areas, taxis perform the role of a public transport service.
Both buses and taxis can be flagged down as they pass and can take you virtually anywhere on request.
Hire cars are available in both Port Vila and Luganville.
Shipping
There are over 30 privately owned vessels which freighting goods and trading throughout the Vanuatu archipelago. These Vessels make regular visits to all ports of the republic. While the frequency of visits varies according to area, a regular weekly or fortnightly service to all areas is ensured.
Air Service
Access by air is offered by 15 international flights a week on the national carrier Air Vanuatu and 2 flights per week on Virgin Blue's International airline, Pacific blue
International Air Services has flights to the following areas:
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