The Self-Serving Scramble for the Developing World
Richard Butler | Foreign Policy Journal | July 3rd 2018 The tiny Pacific nation of Vanuatu is only the latest developing nation to fall victim to a highly disturbing trend: regional economic giants—in this case China and Australia—playing out their personal rivalries...
Off the grey list
Richard Butler | Daily Post | July 3rd 2018 In a plenary session ending Friday last week, the Financial Action Task Force formally removed Vanuatu from the list of ‘high risk jurisdictions’. The FATF is a global organisation mandated to rein in money laundering and...
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbul has announced that Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, will visit Australia from 23 to 29 June
Richard Butler | PNG News | June 21st 2018 Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbul has announced that Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, will visit Australia from 23 to 29 June. “Australia enjoys a close relationship with Vanuatu, with our two nations...
New air cargo terminal to cater for long haul flights
Richard Butler | Daily Post | June 8th 2018 The Minister of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Jotham Napat has officially opened the Vanuatu Terminal Services, Bauerfield International Airport’s air cargo terminal expansion. In his official address, Mr Napat said...
New City
Richard Butler | Daily Post | June 6th 2018 An ambitious new project is emerging at Narpow Point on Efate. The construction of a new modern city, dubbed the “Rainbow International City” and “Little Singapore”, by the FPF Company Limited is underway. It is scheduled to...
Vanuatu on show in London
Richard Butler | MWREL.com | April 22th 2018 This week in London there were thousands of eager investors queuing up to view displays and hear talks showcasing investments from many countries. Vanuatu was represented by Melanesian Waterfront Real Estate, a Vanuatu...
Vanuatu Total visitor arrivals rose by 23 percent over the previous month and 35 percent over the year
Richard Butler | Reserve Bank Of Vanuatu | April 6th 2018 Real sector developments Vanuatu received 54,549 total visitors in January 2017. Total visitor arrivals rose by 23 percent over the previous month and 35 percent over the year. Of the total, 10,130 visitors...
Vanuatu meets with Indian PM holds bilateral meets ahead of solar alliance conference
Richard Butler | India Today | March 9th 2018 Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a series of bilateral meetings with the heads of three nations ahead of the founding conference of the International Solar Alliance. Modi met Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe, President of...
Bungee jumping in Vanuatu
Richard Butler | The Australian | March 9th 2018 Have seen so many bungee jumps on weekdays, but do you know the origin of bungee jumping? Now let us follow the pace of small tile to Vanuatu visit mysterious "bungee origin", and there is a very local custom - crazy...
Prince Charles to visit remote Pacific island where his father the Duke of Edinburgh is worshipped as a GOD
Richard Butler | Mail Online News | March 5th 2018 He is used to receiving a warm welcome wherever he goes in the world. But none quite like the one he is he set to experience when he visits the remote Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu next month. For Prince Charles is...
China direct flights about to start
Richard Butler | Daily Post | Feb 19th 2018 The outcome of Vanuatu’s bilateral talks with Civil Aviation Administration of China at Asia Pacific (APAC) Ministerial Conference has been hailed as "positive". Director of Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu (CAAV) Joseph...
Air Vanuatu announces more international flights
Richard Butler | Daily Post | Feb 2nd 2018 Air Vanuatu has announced additional capacity on international routes with an agreement to lease a Boeing 737 from Nauru Airlines during peak season ongoing until January 2020. The additional aircraft will operate new...
PNG ICCC to allow Air Niugini, Air Solomon Islands and Air Vanuatu codeshare agreement
Richard Butler | Fiji Sun | Jan 19th 2018 The Papua New Guinea Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) plans to allow Air Niugini to continue its partnership with Air Vanuatu and Solomon Airlines in their respective code-sharing arrangements. The...
Chinese Bidder CCECC Awarded Bauerfield International Airport Upgrade Contract
Post by Richard Butler | 2 April 2017 | The Bauerfield runway upgrades go to CCECC: it’s official. There had been disagreements between the World Bank and Government, but the World Bank is happy the processes have now followed the appropriate procurement procedures....
Pacific Haven Resort Limited releases the First Scuba Academy in a Vanuatu Resort Site
Post by Richard Butler | 5 June 2017 | Pacific Haven Resort Limited, a Vanuatu investment promotion authority approved company, has now released waterfront bungalows for sale, selling off plan and complimented by the first scuba divers academy within a Vanuatu resort...
Tourism as a way to lift the Pacific out of poverty
Richard Butler | TRF News | Nov 6th 2017 The seafront of Port Vila, Vanuatu, bustles with activity. Traders – most of them women – call out to tourists wandering past, imploring them to take a look at a kaleidoscopic island dress or intricately woven basket. These...
Vanuatu assures envoy it is committed to One China Policy
Richard Butler | Island Life | Nov 3rd 2017 The Vanuatu prime minister has assured China’s ambassador that Vanuatu is committed to the One China Policy. Charlot Salwai made the comment on Wednesday during the official presentation of over 400 athletes and officials...
Work finally begins on rehab of main Vanuatu airport
Richard Butler | RNZ News | Nov 3rd 2017 Work has finally begun on the rehabilitation of Vanuatu's main international airport in Port Vila. The World Bank-funded Vanuatu Aviation Investment Project is led by a Chinese contractor. China Civil Engineering Construction...
340-day contract commencement date effective: AVL CEO
Richard Butler | Daily Post | Oct 25th 2017 The end of the contracts for Port Vila's Bauerfield Aiport, Pekoa (Santo)and Whitegrass (Tanna) is set for September 2018. The 340-day contract commencement date started yesterday (Tuesday, October 24), the Chief Executive...
Air Vanuatu in New Caledonia flights
Richard Butler | RNZ News | Oct 23th 2017 Air Vanuatu and New Caledonia's Aircalin have signed a codeshare agreement. The deal provides for six flights a week between Port Vila and Noumea, with Air Vanuatu flying four times a week and Aircalin twice. The two airlines...
Maritime Silk Road expo sees growth
Richard Butler | China Daily | Sept 26th 2017 The 2017 Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo, also known as the MSR Expo, held in Dongguan, Guangdong province, from Thursday to Sunday, attracted some 251,000 domestic and foreign participants....
China’s Millennials Are Driving World Travel Growth
Tourism boom helps rebalance economy to more consumer-led growth Post by Richard Butler | 24 September 2017 | Burgeoning wanderlust among young Chinese is becoming a key driver of global travel growth and helping reshape the domestic economy. "China, led by younger...
BAUERFIELD TERMINAL UPGRADE
Richard Butler | Daily Post | Sept 16 2017 FEATURE Airports Vanuatu Ltd has just announced plans to upgrade the existing Bauerfield airport terminal, with the intention of having it ready in time for the influx of athletes and officials attending the Pacific Mini...
Chinese tourism key to unlocking growth potential of Pacific nations: World Bank
Richard Butler | China Daily | Sept 5th 2017 SYDNEY -- Often overlooked in terms of the broader world view, the nations of the South Pacific are primed with tremendous growth opportunities over the next few decades, with tourism from China pegged as one of the most...
New Port Vila Seafront Walkway and Parkland
https://vimeo.com/301937445 A video by Megan Singleton (top NZ Blogger) produced by Media Mash to celebrate the newly upgraded Port Vila Seafront Walkway and Parkland stretching from Chantillys and Moorings Hotel to the Port Vila Market house, which will launch...
Beijing’s bid to redirect Chinese cash from London property to Vanuatu telecoms
Mele Island in Vanuatu. Chinese companies are being encouraged to secure deals for projects such as telecom networks in the Pacific island nation. Photo: Handout Richard Butler | SCMP | Aug 22 2017 Move to restrict overseas investment in some areas could be an...
Longest Wharf in South Pacific in August 2017
Richard Butler | Daily Post | Aug 21st 2017 The Government of China, through the the Chinese Ambassador to Vanuatu, officially handed the new main wharf at Luganville, Santo-the longest wharf in the South Pacific to the Vanuatu Government last Saturday. “Once they...
Steve Jacobs works in Sydney and lives in Vanuatu
Richard Butler | Daily Mail Online | July 31st 2017 How’s the weather up there? Today’s weather presenter Steven Jacobs poses for hilarious photo with Sydney Kings basketball stars He’s known for his skills as a weather presenter on Weekend Today. But two statuesque...
Vanuatu set to graduate from Least Developed Country status in 2020
Post by Richard Butler | 25 July 2017 Mark your diary: Vanuatu will cease to be a Least Developed Country (LDC) in 2020. DPM Joe Natuman is attending the World Trade Organisation (WTO)’s 2017 Aid for Trade Biennial Review in Geneva, Switzerland. He has attended some...
70% is a predicted increase in Chinese demand for foreign property in 2017
Richard Butler | July 24th 2017 I recently attended a high profile accountants Price Waterhouse Cooper's seminar in conjunction with real estate service comany Investorist who provided attendees with a detailed report on the comprehensive survey completed in March...
Top 10 dive spots in the world: Vanuatu is on the list!
Richard Butler | Financial Express | July 9th 2017 The SS President Coolidge off Santo, northern Vanuatu, was a World War II luxury ocean liner. It was commandeered by the US navy and fitted out as a naval ship. Unfortunately, it got sunk by one of America’s own...
