Vanuatu is an independent Republic situated in the South Pacific. It is made up of an archipelago of more than 80 islands which used to be a French and British condominium until its independence in 1980. It was at the time called the New Hebrides. As a result, the official languages are French, English and Bislama. It is a tropical paradise with little population (200.000 inhabitants) whose capital is Port-Vila. Located on Vaté Island (30.000 inhabitants), Port-Vila concentrates the powers (political power among many) as well as the economic activities. Only the two Islands of Espiritu Santo and Vate possess dynamic urban centers which are open to the economic and financial world. The principal incomes in Vanuatu are tourism and agriculture.

Vanuatu is also a paradise because there are no personal and no corporate income taxes, there are no capital gains taxes and there are no estates or death duties. But a Value Added Tax (VAT) at the rate of 12, 50% is applicable on goods and services and significant customs taxes as well as a particular real estate system exist in Vanuatu. Vanuatu is also judicially equipped in order to facilitate the off shore installation of every type of business.

Vanuatu has become a financial center no one can get away from. Its currency (Vatu) is based on a basket of currencies which guarantee a good stability thereof.
By now1000 Vatus = 850 XPF = 7,15 euros = 9US$

1 US$

148vt

148

136

135

125

117

120

111

114,48

115

115,3

110

1 AUS$

76vt

76

77

77

84

88

85

88

86,2

85,3

86,7

86,5

1 Euro

131vt

131

135

139

142

144

145

150

137,9

136,3

146,5

145,4

1 XPF

1,06vt

1,1

1,12

1,16

1,19

1,21

1,22

1,25

1,2

1,21

1,27

1,3

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dec-01

juil-02

dec-02

juil-03

dec-03

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dec-04

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dec-05

juil-06

dec-06