Now we know what colour the 2019 McLaren will be
Richard Butler | from GP Fans | 28 Jan 2019 McLaren have all but confirmed that a papaya livery will remain in situ on the team's 2019 challenger – the MCL34. McLaren have teased elements of their 2019 livery more than any other team on the grid so far, with all...
009 Right Place at the Right Time
You have to be in the Right Place at the Right Time... (and with the Right People!) to Avail Yourself of the Right Opportunity Why should the visit of the Australian Prime Minister ("SkoMo") to Vanuatu and the interview of Sir David Attenborough by Prince William all...
Department of Tourism reveals plans for big cruise ship visit
008 The “Easy Button” for Residency via Investment
Is there REALLY an "Easy Button" for navigating frustrating bureaucratic waters to obtain Residency via Investment? In recent weeks the madness of the western world has hit new peaks. More and more countries in turmoil. Thinking people are wondering if there's an...
007 Vanuatu the newest Offshore Financial Centre?
...and an endless summer destination for the wealthy? This week I received a very interesting paper posing this very question: "Could Vanuatu be the next financial centre for the world? And the answer is yes! I do believe that that is a possibility. This week's...
Cassava grown for Vanuatu workers turns into potential money-maker for NT mango farmer
Richard Butler | from ABC Rural | 30 Dec 2018 A Northern Territory mango farmer who grew cassava at the request of his Pacific Islander workers believes the plant has the potential to be a profitable crop for the Top End. When Katherine farmer Mitchael Curtis...
Vanuatu Vaccines Delivered From the Skies
Richard Butler | Egemen Qazaqstan | 24 Dec 2018 In the village of Cook’s Bay, on the remote side of the remote island of Erromango, in the remote South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, 1-month-old Joy Nowai was given shots for hepatitis and tuberculosis that were...
Sport: Vanuatu defend Oceania beach volley title
Richard Butler | RNZ News | 24 Dec 2018 Vanuatu have defended their Oceania Women's Beach Volleyball title, denying Tahiti a clean sweep of the podiums in Papeete. Top seeds Miller Pata and Sherysyn Toko defeated Emere Maau-Boutry and Vaihere Fareura 21-17 21-17 in...
006 I made a $1.5 Bn Mistake (Oops!)
I made a $1.5 billion mistake! in quoting infrastructure development in the South Pacific Wow... I reported last week (incorrectly as it turns out) that the Australian Government announced at APEC Papau New Guinea, it was going to provide $1.5 billion for...
I made a $1.5 billion mistake in quoting infrastructure development in the South Pacific (Full Article)
Richard Butler | 19th December 2018... I incorrectly reported last week the Australian Government announced at APEC Papau New Guinea was going to provide $1.5 billion for infrastructure into the South Pacific. It is now $3 billion between the Islands of the South...
China International Import Expo: a new opportunity for Pacific states?
![The Big Secret [Vanuatu Dreaming #44]](https://allaboutvanuatu.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Heads-at-APEC-2018-400x250.jpg)
The Big Secret [Vanuatu Dreaming #44]
Issue #44 THE BIG SECRET We teased you about it last week, and now the big reveal... It's about APEC and the hopper-loads of cash cascading down on the South Pacific countries from the many benefactors at the APEC summit last month in Papua New Guinea. Are they really...
US joins Pacific infrastructure development group
Richard Butler | RNZ News | 13 Dec 2018 The United States has joined a regional infrastructure development group which offers Pacific countries an alternative to Chinese finance for big projects. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced yesterday the US was adding...
NZ ups its diplomatic presence in Pacific
Winston Peters Photo: New Zealand Herald/Jason Oxenham Richard Butler | RNZ | 4 Dec 2018 New Zealand foreign affairs minister Winston Peters says New Zealand is to create 14 new diplomatic posts as part of its so called ‘Pacific Reset’. The reset aims...
Asphalt construction works commence on Bauerfield runway
Asphalt works on the Bauerfield runway has started following initial trials and testing early this month. Richard Butler | Daily Post | 3 Dec 2018 Asphalt construction works have commenced on the runway at Bauerfield international airport, following initial...
![It’s Time! [Vanuatu Dreaming #42]](https://allaboutvanuatu.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PHR-Artist-Impression-400x250.jpg)
It’s Time! [Vanuatu Dreaming #42]
Issue #42 It's Time! Is Vanuatu and the South Pacific the last frontier for development funding in the southern hemisphere?! Yes its time, time to view offshore investment into Vanuatu and specifically into Pacific Haven Resort, after waiting for the airport to be...
Tourism growth could expand to unforeseen numbers
Richard Butler | Island Life | 23 Nov 2018 The tourism industries of SPTO member countries will benefit from the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) through the promotion of the China Pacific Tourism Year 2019 (CPTY). This was announced by President Xi Jinping on Friday...
![So what exactly does a Trade Commissioner do? [Vanuatu Dreaming #41]](https://allaboutvanuatu.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/3a0394ba-0454-4fe8-a5ce-e9a79a81e8a8-400x250.jpg)
So what exactly does a Trade Commissioner do? [Vanuatu Dreaming #41]
Issue #41 So what exactly does a Trade Commissioner do? (And why should you care!) Good morning, and welcome. In this email you will find a link to the new podcast from Melanesian Waterfront Real Estate Ltd. Today I will tell you the story about how I was offered...
Tonga and Vanuatu join China’s Belt and Road
Richard Butler| from RNZ | 20 November 2018 Tonga and Vanuatu have signed up to China’s Belt and Road initiative. The announcements came on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Papua New Guinea last week. Tonga’s memorandum of understanding on Belt and Road was...
Chinese President Xi meets with leaders of seven Pacific island countries including Vanuatu
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President of the Federated States of Micronesia Peter Christian, Port Moresby, PNG, November 16, 2018. /Xinhua Photo Richard Butler | Xinhua | 17 Nov 2018 Chinese President Xi Jinping met with the leaders of seven Pacific island...
![Why Consider Investment in Vanuatu? [Vanuatu Dreaming #40]](https://allaboutvanuatu.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Choose-400x250.jpg)
Why Consider Investment in Vanuatu? [Vanuatu Dreaming #40]
Issue #40 Why Consider Investment in Vanuatu? Great question and we have an answer: "Its Time!" I have had 10 years to mull over this question and now will be presenting again an ongoing series of podcasts weekly. You will be helped to look at securing an alternative...
Australia’s plan to challenge China in the South Pacific
Richard Butler | CNN | 9 Nov 2018 Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shake hands at a news conference at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing Thursday. Dr. John Lee is senior fellow at the Hudson Institute (Washington)...
Vanuatu chooses Stantec to supervise 400-kW Brenwe Hydropower Plant
Richard Butler | HydroWorld.com | 30 Oct 2018 The government of Vanuatu and the Asian Development Bank have chosen Stantec to be design supervision consultant for the Vanuatu Energy Access Project, which includes the 400-kW Brenwe Hydropower Plant. The project, on the...
Malta To Assist Government Of Vanuatu In Forming Blockchain Regulations
Richard Butler | Cointelegraph.com | 10 Oct 2018 The government of Malta has agreed to assist the Republic of Vanuatu in forming blockchain regulations. The Vanuatu Daily Post reported that Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vanuatu, attended Malta’s...
Vanuatu launches new Dept of Climate Change
Vanuatu parliament building in the capital Port Vila. Photo: RNZI/ Walter Zweifel Richard Butler | RNZ News | 25 Sept 2018 The Vanuatu goverment is working towards setting up its first Department of Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction. The Daily Post newspaper...
Vanuatu PM hails bilateral ties with China
Vanuatu PM hails bilateral ties with China Richard Butler | Xinhua | 22 Sept 2018 Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai has hailed the island nation's good relationship with China, saying that China-Vanuatu relations will continue to grow from strength to strength....
Even Faster Internet access for Vanuatu
Richard Butler | Loopvanuatu.com | 19 Sept 2018 Submarine Cable owner and operator Interchange Limited has delivered a 42% reduction off the regulated wholesale pricing of the Submarine Cable to Telecom Vanuatu Ltd (TVL) and Digicel (Vanuatu) Ltd as of 1 September...
Chinese travel brands soaring to new heights
Richard Butler | Orange business | 10 Sept 2018 The rise of Chinese travel, both domestic and outbound, has been facilitated in large part by the large number of Chinese airlines. Naturally, the value and reach of these airline brands is growing, at least according...
Vanuatu Aviation Investment Project update for Bauerfield
Richard Butler | Vanuatu Daily Post, Jane Joshua | 26th Aug, 2018The Government and its partners in the Vanuatu Aviation Investment Project (VAIP) are committed to providing regular updates about construction works at the country’s three main airports.At Bauerfield,...
Vanuatu Aviation Investment Project update for Bauerfield
Richard Butler | Daily Post | 27 Aug 2018 The Government and its partners in the Vanuatu Aviation Investment Project (VAIP) are committed to providing regular updates about construction works at the country’s three main airports. At Bauerfield, the contractors China...
Close to 30,000 rural ni-Vanuatu to be migrated to electronic banking
Richard Butler | Pacific Office in Fiji | Aug 23rd 2018 Port Vila, Vanuatu – Addressing low usage, cost of travel and lack of opportunities to transact, the National Bank of Vanuatu (NBV) has announced the migration of close to 30,000 of its rural customers from a...
