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...
Vanuatu revenue soars from passport sales
Post by Richard Butler | RNZ | Aug 21st, 2018 Passport sales in Vanuatu have exceeded expectations, bringing in $US16 million in the first quarter of this year, or more than three times what was budgeted Since 2015, the country has offered honorary citizenship to...
Vanuatu passport sales since 2015, the country has offered honorary citizenship to people willing to pay a $US165,000 application fee
Richard Butler | Daily Post | Aug 22th 2018 Passport sales in Vanuatu have exceeded expectations, bringing in $US16 million in the first quarter of this year, or more than three times what was budgeted The figures, first reported by the Daily Post, showed revenue from...
China: Come of age?
Richard Butler | Xinhua | Aug 17th 2018 CHINA finally seems to have completed its coming of age, and now has the power and money to disrupt diplomatic relations around the world. After decades of taking its neighbours for granted, Australia is starting to wake up to...
Virgin Oz mulls deploying Tigerair on South Pacific routes
Richard Butler | Ch Aviation | Aug 17th 2018 Virgin Australia Holdings is considering deploying its Tigerair Australia (TT, Melbourne Tullamarine) unit on South Pacific routes, a filing with Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) has revealed. In an...
Vanuatu university holds 11th Chinese Proficiency Competition
Richard Butler | Xinhuanet | Aug 17th 2018 PORT VILA (VANUATU), Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The 11th "Chinese Bridge", the Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students in Vanuatu Division was held on Friday in the Confucius Classroom at the Emalus...
Top leaders of Vanuatu laud Chinese hospital ship’s visit
Richard Butler | Xinhua | July 28th 2018 SUVA, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Top leaders of Vanuatu, expressed appreciation for a Chinese naval hospital ship's visit, saying it demonstrated the profound friendship between Vanuatu and China. The Chinese naval hospital ship Ark...
US troops to begin aid mission on Vanuatu island
Richard Butler | Stripes.com | July 14th 2018 U.S. troops will conduct humanitarian operations next week on a South Pacific island that, some have speculated, is eyed by China as a potential overseas military base. About 65 U.S. troops will provide humanitarian...
Australia’s Pacific Island Myopia Overreacting to China’s presence in the Pacific Islands is undermining Australia’s image in the region
Richard Butler | Stripes.com | July 14th 2018 This year has seen intense scrutiny of Chinese aid to Pacific island countries by the Australian media. The focus of coverage has been on a range of perceived “threats” emanating from China. These include the leverage...
Put this on your Bucket list
By CHEYENNE MACDONALD FOR DAILYMAIL.COM and AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS | July 10th 2018 A helicopter pilot has shared hair-raising footage of the view just above the mouth of a bubbling volcano. In a jaw-dropping video shared by Vanuatu Helicopters this week, Pilot...
Vanuatu’s ban on single use plastic comes into effect
Richard Butler | Island Life Mag | July 6th 2018 The Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ralph Regenvanu who pioneered the “No Plastic – Vanuatu” initiative begins his shopping with an environmentally-friendly re-usable ABM shopping bag launched in all outlets this...
