Vanuatu Government Trade Policy Framework

The Vanuatu Government Trade Policy Framework is a national multi-sectoral policy framework of Vanuatu. Its main objective is to mainstream trade into Vanuatu’s national development strategy; enhance development through increased exports of goods and services; guide and inform the workings of Vanuatu’s National Trade and Development Committee; inform trade negotiations; and facilitate increased inflows of Aid for Trade.
The document provides for measures pertaining to food production and food safety. Specifically, it notes that support needs to be increased to the primary and secondary productive sectors focusing towards enhancing productive capacity for either food or industrial/export crops, or supporting the agro-industry. Further, it notes that the Department of Quarantine must be urgently provided by state-of-the art post-harvest facilities, including facilities for biotreatment (fumigation), inspection facilities (collection points for checking and certifying), and quarantine laboratories (to test for pest and diseases). Also, the Food Technology Development Centre must be equipped with a food laboratory to test food safety and quality, and support the development of standards to ensure conformance and quality assurance.
In order to enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, the following measures are set out: boost exports of goods Vanuatu’s productive capacity for commodities where the country enjoys a comparative advantage (fish, coconut, cocoa beans, kava, beef, timber, sandalwood, root crops, and coffee beans); draft a comprehensive Fisheries Development Policy to enhance development opportunities from coastal and oceanic fisheries and aquaculture; draft an overarching Services Policy to increase exports in areas of comparative advantage such as tourism, labor mobility, banking, telecommunications, business, and environmental services (including carbon trading); further develop tourism exports by boosting training for reserved tourism activities, drafting a Zoning Policy, drafting a Traditional Knowledge, Cultural Expressions, and Bio-Diversity Policy, and improving value adding for urban tourism, notably through initiatives of waterfront regeneration, broad-based environmental education, and improved linkages to the primary and agro-industry sectors; implement a comprehensive program of land registration and evaluation in urban and rural areas, and introduce legal reforms necessary to implement land zoning; implement the Act establishing a Chamber of Agriculture and/or strengthen existing intermediate organizations to allow Government authorities to structurally engage farmers on Sanitary and Phytosanitary/Technical Barriers to Trade, and agricultural issues.
According to the document, national stakeholders agreed that recommendations of the Vanuatu Trade Policy Framework will be used to establish a comprehensive medium-term implementation plan which allocates responsibilities to suitable leading agencies, establishes timelines for delivery, and defines clear performance indicators to track progress towards agreed objectives.