You may be wondering what are the Benefits of Obtaining Vanuatu Citizenship?
We give you 3 main reasons to convince you.
TRAVEL
The Vanuatu passport gives access to 93 countries with visa-free or visa on arrival. These countries include Singapore. Vanuatu also has a mutual visa waiver agreement with Hong Kong and Russia.
You can stay up to 30 days visa-free in Singapore.
Passport are valid for a period of 10 years renewable for the same period.
Vanuatu has zero corporate tax, it also has no income tax, no capital gains tax, no estate tax, no wealth tax, no withholding tax, no gift tax and no other personal income taxes. Aside from a locally applied 15% VAT, there are almost no taxes at all.
In conclusion, Vanuatu is business-friendly.
BONUS
Vanuatu is a member of the Commonwealth and therefore its citizens are considered Commonwealth citizens. This recognition thus grants the citizen of Vanuatu additional rights in certain Commonwealth countries.
You can add most of your family to your application (children under 25 years old, parents aged 50 and above).
Martin St-Hilaire Honorary Consul of Monaco in Vanuatu
Monaco may be a tiny country half a world away, but it’s been persistent in its efforts to maintain strong ties with Vanuatu, as demonstrated by the recent appointment of Martin St-Hilaire as its honorary consul in Port-Vila.
Born in Canada in 1976, Martin moved to Vanuatu in 2003 and was naturalized Ni-Vanuatu in 2017. He’s been a key player in the country’s financial industry, first as managing director of professional services firm AJC (since 2007), then as managing director of online brokerage Titan FX (since 2018), and as Chairman of both the Financial Centre Association (since 2015) and the Financial Markets Association (since 2020). He also sits on the boards of a number of Vanuatu businesses including Pacific Private Bank, 83 Islands Distillery, Kacific Broadband Satellites, PDTC (the firm behind the Yumiwork incubator and co-working space); and he’s a partner in Singapore-based global mobility firm EC Holdings.
Due to Martin’s high profile in the community, he was deemed an ideal candidate to be appointed honorary consul by Prince Albert II of Monaco in an “Ordonnance Souveraine” dated September 7, 2022. On November 25, he received his official approval letter – or “exequatur” in diplomatic parlance – from Hon. Jotham Napat, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade.
Tell us what exactly is an honorary consul?
It’s a question I’m asked quite frequently. Honorary consuls are volunteer diplomats who work in their home country to represent the interests of the foreign nations that appoint them. The system has existed for centuries and there are now thousands of honorary consuls worldwide. They often fill in the gaps in places where a fully funded diplomatic mission would not make sense, as is often the case between smaller countries.
At 2.1 km2 Monaco is the second smallest state in the world after the Vatican, with a population of under 40,000, of which only 6500 are citizens. Few might ever need consular services in Vanuatu, and those who do can already receive help from the French embassy under the Franco-Monegasque agreements, so there is no need to establish a permanent mission.
One of my duties is to offer immediate assistance to any Monegasque national who may require it; but I suspect most of my time will be devoted to another important role vested in me by His Royal Highness: the promotion of Monaco.
You are not Monegasque; how come your name came up for this position?
Actually, most honorary consuls do not need to have the nationality of the country that appoints them. What’s more important is that they are knowledgeable about and well established in the consular district, and that they uphold their function with loyalty.
My wife Marie Eve is Canadian and Ni-Vanuatu like me, and she’s been the honorary consul for Sweden for many years. And my predecessor in this role, Patrick Morvan, was a French national.
Marie-Ève invited Patrick to use our offices at AJC, and that’s how she and I had the honour to be introduced to His Serene Highness Albert II during his visit to Vanuatu four years ago. When Patrick left his functions, I got in touch with Monaco authorities and offered to replace him, and they accepted. The Prince’s Standard and his official portrait are still displayed at our offices – only now with a new consul.
Martin St-Hilaire meeting Prince Albert II during his visit to Port Vila in 2018
Why is Monaco called a “principality”?
As opposed to a Republic like Vanuatu or France, Monaco is a constitutional monarchy headed by a Sovereign Prince, who holds executive power with the Princely Government, shares legislative power with a National Council elected by the people, and delegates judicial power to independent judges.
The current Prince, Albert II, ascended to the throne following the death of his father Prince Rainier III in 2005, who famously married American actress Grace Kelly who became Princess Grace. The family, the House of Grimaldi, has quite a fascinating story.
They’ve been in charge ever since 1297 when their ancestor François seized a fortress built by the Genoese Republic. Many European forces threatened Monaco through the Middle Ages and, in 1641, it became a protectorate of France so as to better dissuade any would-be conquerors. But when the French revolution broke out it 1793, the territory was annexed, and it consequently fell under Napoleon’s rule until 1815, when it was placed under the protection of the King of Sardinia. The current Principality was finally formed in 1861, and its constitution adopted in 1911. As Monaco affirmed its status as an independent state, it took on a greater role on the global stage. It became a full voting member at UNESCO in 1949, then at the United Nations in 1993 and at the European Council in 2004. It now has diplomatic ties with 153 countries and is a member of many global organizations – as any sovereign country however tiny should.
How will your new role impact Vanuatu?
I wouldn’t have volunteered if I didn’t think Monaco had a lot to offer Vanuatu. The two countries are very different in many respects, but if you focus on the similarities, it becomes clear that Monaco can be an inspiration for our economic development.
Monaco is less populated and much smaller than Vanuatu, especially when you compare our exclusive economic zones, yet somehow it manages to churn out a massive annual GDP of US$6.8 billion – about seven times bigger than ours, with about seven times less people.
What can we learn from Monaco?
Like us, they have little to offer in the way of natural resources or labour capacity. Like us, they do not raise tax on income, on wealth, on capital gains, on real estate or on housing. Like us, they raise most of their revenue through a VAT and pay-per-use fees and duties. And that’s where the similarities end.
A key difference is their extreme degree of diversification. Administrative and support services amount to 21% of their GDP, followed by construction and real estate at 19%, financial services at 16%, wholesale businesses at 10%, accommodation and catering at 7%, retail at 7%, communications at 5%, and so on. It’s a very balanced portfolio of industries that make their economy as strong as the Rock of Monaco!
This stems from their ability to attract foreign investment, in the form of both financial and human capital. People of over 140 nationalities make up Monaco’s population today. They were seduced not only by its business-friendly tax regime, which again is similar to ours, but also by its world-class infrastructure and unparalleled security – which accounts for 20% of the principality’s budget but provides 1 police officer for 70 residents, due to the specific risks in the Mediterranean region.
Just very recently, His Serene Highness publicly reasserted that improving attractivity for investors was the main focus of His Government.
Our history and geopolitical context may be different, but the fact remains that diversification is key for small countries, and as I have long championed, Vanuatu would do well to expand far beyond agriculture and tourism. I intend to use my new role to that end.
Can we expect another princely visit soon?
The Sovereign Prince is very active in his Foundation (fpa2.org) for the protection of planetary health.
One of the Foundation’s projects, Océan-Mer de Corail 2023/2024, might bring a team of Monegasque scientists to Vanuatu to explore our unique seas. If this is confirmed, it will be a good opportunity to extend an invitation to the Prince himself, as I believe he enjoyed his last visit quite a bit. I will try my best to make it happen.
DFK International has been ranked as the sixth largest association in the world by a leading industry magazine.
AJC has been a proud member of DFK International for 10 years.
The association has moved up one spot in the ratings to achieve sixth place in the International Accounting Bulletin’s (IAB’s) annual 2022 World Survey Report.
The report is based on collective fee income, with DFK International members firms achieving a turnover of $1.532 billion.
DFK has sat in seventh place for 10 years, but has moved up the list after achieving a growth rate of three per cent compared to the previous year.
The association now has 230 member firms, 1,413 partners, 13,919 staff members and 455 offices in 94 countries.
IAB is the only global magazine covering the professional services world. Focusing on business issues affecting accounting firms, networks and associations, it is a trusted source for leading accounting news, as well as vital data and analysis provided by its survey features.
It is regarded as a must-read title by the world’s leading accounting professionals, and is supported by an advisory board comprising a roll call of international CEOs.
Martin Sharp, executive director of DFK International, said: “We are very proud to be among the leading associations worldwide.
“Moving up to sixth place demonstrates that despite the pandemic, DFK remains one of the strongest associations in the world and our member firms have continued to grow, which is a fantastic achievement.
“We have seen growth across all services lines, particularly in North America, which shows that our members have continued to provide outstanding support to their clients in a challenging environment and in-turn have expanded their practices.
“We now look forward to another successful year as we continue to do business and share knowledge and best practice to achieve further growth.”
To learn more about DFK International visit www.dfk.com
AJC Vanuatu is proud to announce its accreditation as a Full Member of DFK International, the London-based association of independent accounting, tax, legal, and business advisory firms. The organization, with more than 200 members in 100 countries, recognizes AJC’s outstanding work and professionalism in upholding the values and best practices embraced by its members worldwide.
Founded in 2003 in Port Vila, AJC first joined DFK International in 2009 as a Correspondent Member. Since then, the firm has tripled in size by broadening its range of accounting and business advisory services, including audit and accounting, the incorporation of local and offshore companies, corporate secretariat, and support to investors seeking to obtain licenses issued by Vanuatu authorities.
The team is now made up of 30 seasoned professionals including accountants, lawyers and digital communications experts.
Marie Eve Chabot, Managing Director of AJC, said: “DFK International has been instrumental throughout the years in helping us build our network, stay on top of industry best practices, and bring added value to our clients by referring them to like-minded firms across the world. Now that we are a Full Member, we expect to reap even greater benefit from this prestigious association.”
While today AJC is one of the leading professional services firms in Vanuatu, it has stayed true to its roots as a family business. Canadian-born Marie Eve Chabot, CA, CPA, took over the lead two years ago from her husband – also CA, CPA – Martin St-Hilaire.
Besides its instrumental role in facilitating the kind of foreign investment that helps grow the country’s economy, AJC is also proud to provide an outstanding professional training environment to Ni Vanuatu graduates. Building a nation through economic growth requires a highly skilled workforce, and AJC strives to do its part in developing Ni Vanuatu talent.
In recent years AJC has been through a thorough digital transformation and it now helps clients achieve the same. It has also developed in-depth expertise in regulatory issues and offers custom-tailored consulting services in this area whenever clients need them.
Master Python by building 100 projects in 100 days.
Learn data science, automation, build websites, games and apps!
Python is a programming language, and is commonly used for developing websites and software.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧:
Be able to program in Python professionally
Master the Python programming language by building 100 projects over 100 days
Create a portfolio of 100 Python projects to apply for developer jobs
Be able to build fully fledged websites and web apps with Python
Be able to use Python for data science and machine learning
Build games like Blackjack, Pong and Snake using Python
Build GUIs and Desktop applications with Python
Learn to use modern frameworks like Selenium, Beautiful Soup, Request, Flask, Pandas, NumPy, Scikit Learn, Plotly, Matplotlib, Seaborn,
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦:
AJC Digital will sponsor the training program for a period of 6 month. The candidate must be available at least 2 hours per working day. The candidate will not earn a salary and have no obligation towards AJC digital. This is an opportunity to learn programing in a favorable environment. An allowance for transport may be considered to support the candidate with basic cost.
𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚:
Willing to learn
English Speaking
Basic Coding Skills
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲:
Send a CV (if you have)
What are your motives (reason for applying)
Submission due by the 𝟐𝟖𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝑭𝒆𝒃 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐.
The selected candidate could have a career opportunity to work at AJC Digital after completion of the program. AJC Digital provides a desk equipped with a computer in the AJC Digital office.
Left to right: Diana, Isaline, Vanessa, Verisha, Tristan, Anne-Laure, Anne-Hélène, Evelyne, Marie-Eve, Leyla, Clayberman, Marlène
AJC would like to wish the Port Vila Community, our clients and everyone in Vanuatu Happy New Year 2022.
We are now entering the third year of the world pandemic. The past two years have been very difficult for many of our clients, in particular those operating tourism-related businesses.
New services
AJC, like most businesses in Vanuatu, have had to look at diversifying our offerings. In addition to our standard range of professional services – accounting, audits, business valuations, corporate secretaries, residency visas, work permits, international entries to Vanuatu, local and international company setup, financial dealer licenses – we have built an entirely new digital marketing division to help clients fine-tune their websites and advertise in search engines and social media. The division has already secured its official Google Ad Partner certification – a first for Vanuatu.
New people
Unfortunately, this last pandemic year has taken two of our highest skilled professionals. Damien Mullins, a Chartered Accountant from Australia, left us to move to Canberra with his family and Annick Bonnier Roy, CPA from Canada, decided to follow her heart when her Kiwi pilot boyfriend ran short of planes to fly in Vanuatu.
Other members of our team will continue to benefit the local community: Chloe Rolland joined the Vanuatu Government, in the Prime Minister’s Office no less, Isabelle Theuil joined the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) organisation and Sara Harry went to one of our valued clients, Titan FX.
Our firm is not only a business; it is also a place for professional training and career development, where graduates can hone their skills and knowledge acquired at schools before they move to the next professional step. The kind of experience we provide in a professional services firm gives our employees a wide skill set and we are happy to see them share with the world wherever they go.
Speaking of newcomers, we are pleased to announce to Vanuatu’s business community and our clients and employees that two new skilled recruits, Anne Laure Bosson and Anne Helene Lefrancq, both Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA – Canada), have safely landed in Vanuatu just before Christmas and started a new step of their professional journeys within AJC.
People come and go, and everybody grows from it.
Anne Laure and Anne Helene are both dual citizens of France and Canada, and they both graduated from HEC at the Université de Montréal and completed their CPA in Canada. They worked for an international firm in Montreal for years before coming here, and their knowledge and skills are a great addition to AJC, our clients, our team, and the community as a whole.
So, let’s wish all our clients and employees a blissful journey into the New Year and, again, let’s wish a warm welcome to Anne Laure and Anne Helene.
Le manoir sur Mer is an exceptional property located in Berthier-sur-Mer, a town located in the Montmagny Regional County Municipality within the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Quebec, Canada.
Our client wants a dynamic and modern website in order to highlight this wonderful manor.
We have therefore developed a website allowing easy access to a maximum of photos, allowing you to project yourself in this beautiful villa.
Intuitively and easily accessible, the website user accesses all the information available on the house (equipment, location, prices, availability, booking procedures, …) but also to information on the activities available near this holidays residence.
This year we launched a new initiative for AJC: our very own marketing and communications agency!
If you’re looking to launch a new business or revamp your current one, we are now offering integrated marketing solutions to help you hit those all-important KPI’s.
From responsive and adaptive web design to SEO, content marketing, Google Adwords and social media management, we can help guide you on your path to success. Our Google Partner certification was awarded specifically for our expertise in Google Adwords, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
What is a Google partner agency?
Google Partner is a platform for digital marketing companies that employ at least one Google Ads certified Adwords expert.
This means we :
Obtained a Partner badge which attests to the quality of the agency and our work.
Obtained one or more Google certifications by our staff in Google Ads Search, Google Display Ads, Google Video Ads, Google Shopping Ads, and Google Apps.
Have access to all events and training organized by Google, meaning we will always be on the pulse of any changes to these systems.
Why use the services of a Google partner agency?
The title of Google Partner endorses AJC as skilled experts in paid search engine advertising (SEA).
Obtaining a Google Partner badge means we have direct access to additional help from Google, should we ever need this.
Our Google Adwords experts are required to update their knowledge yearly, in order for us to keep our partner status, which means we’ll always be the first to know of any updates.
We want to thank all of our clients so far who trust us with their marketing and can’t wait to welcome new clients on board.
Get in touch so we can help you make your business a success.
Le Trail Pacific is a great family event in Vanuatu. Every year since 2018, it brings together amateur and expert runners around 3 races:
ELITE // 27km
SOCIAL // 15km
FAMILY // 8km
For this new edition in 2021, Le Trail Pacific organizing team wanted to facilitate registration procedures, communicate more easily about the event and promote the new race format in 2022.
We have therefore thought and designed a website in the image of this adventure race in the jungle of Vanuatu so that runners are immersed in Le Trail Pacific race as soon as they register.
We have created an interface to facilitate the navigation on the website for participants before the race: online registration form, 3 payment options, the runner is notified by email at each important registration and payment step. All information about the race is available on the website, a virtual map of the place of the race and also the registration and payment place if the runner encounters difficulties on the web.
We have also integrated the results for the year 2020 and all future results and rankings will be available online.
It was a huge pleasure and challenge to create this interface for this very popular event!
For Vanuatu, the future of financial services has already begun in the form of a recently gazetted amendment that formalizes the use of digital assets for licensed financial dealers. The freshly minted legislation, [Financial Dealers Licensing, 22/07/2021], allows for the “service of distribution, secondary trading, custodial storage, provision of investment advice or other services in relation to digital assets.”
Though digital assets themselves have been a hotly-contested issue in the past few years, a period of deliberation and structured evaluation led Vanuatu to reconsider and overturn an initial ban. Digital assets rely on a distributed, secure ledger, such as blockchain technology, and can be used to represent land, stocks, or other traditional commodities, but their most widespread use is for currencies.
AJC sees the passage of this legislation as a way for financial dealers to work at the forefront of an innovative, versatile asset class and, further, to potentially set the stage for the future of commerce in Vanuatu.
Martin St-Hilaire, chairman of the Financial Markets Association of Vanuatu, noted, “this type of forward-thinking decision came at the right time, and it presents a unique opportunity for Vanuatu to take the lead on the world stage.”
For Vanuatu, official support came through examples of the real-world uses of digital assets and virtual currencies—most notably, Oxfam’s 2020 ‘Unblocked Cash Project,’ which utilized a digital token to give immediate relief for Vanuatu residents affected by Cyclone Harold.
The resulting legislation works to expand the possibilities for licensed companies in Vanuatu as well as to bring forth a new avenue of sustainable economic growth. As a collaborative effort, its journey to becoming gazetted required support and insight from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in addition to parliament members themselves.
“It’s important to stay anchored in the community in both the development and the implementation of regulations that push Vanuatu forward,” added St-Hilaire.
Could the next legislative step be a digital currency for day-to-day use in Vanuatu? AJC certainly hopes so, as we argued in our position paper The case for digitizing the Vatu.
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While the legislation works to help the global community move in step with the country’s development, one key addition is that it has also made operating in Vanuatu more accessible to foreign licensed financial dealers.
International companies can now nominate a representative on the ground in Vanuatu — one way being through AJC — to satisfy the requirements of the law. As such, companies are able to continue to conduct business from afar while maintaining meaningful representation in the country, thus allowing them to make the most of the continued opportunities in the investment and financial services world coming to Vanuatu. Please contact us for more information on how to conform to the new requirements.
We were happy to collaborate with the Financial Centre Association of Vanuatu on their latest web project.
With a revamped design and a slate of new sections, visitors to the FCA’s website will now be able to get a new look into Vanuatu’s financial landscape.
In line with the mission to help Vanuatu grow as a leading Pacific Island and a global financial hub, the FCA is proud to offer another way to stay connected and get the latest updates from the country.
The website will serve as a key knowledge base for the general public, politicians, public servants, NGO workers, and is the go-to place to stay informed and become more aware of the issues we are working on.
Project: Financial Centre Association of Vanuatu – Website Development
Vanuatu’s location, geography, climate and dearth of natural resources are all structural challenges to its economic growth.
Ever since independence 40 years ago the Republic has depended on foreign aid to make ends meet.
To be truly independent, Vanuatu must achieve sustainable growth by its own means.
Our best chance for sustainable growth lies in 21st-century knowledge industries (financial services, software design, communications, marketing, to name a few).
These industries are not constrained by space, use little physical resources, and are mostly green.
They only require an educated workforce and high-speed Internet.
Vanuatu lags behind in education and the economy is already struggling with a deep shortage of educated workers.
The government has made positive strides in primary education but we need to support our youth all the way through post-secondary education.
Students should learn English or French and access computers from the primary level, so they can enroll later in quality high schools and colleges abroad/online.
Educating our future knowledge workers will require extra public revenue, but our only room for economic growth is in knowledge industries.
That chicken-and-egg paradox can be solved by importing high-skilled workers.
However in June 2020, the government introduced a new list of “reserved occupations” that bars foreigners from working in certain managerial, professional and technical positions.
Many of the newly listed occupations require post-secondary education.
While the list is an important tool to preserve opportunities for Ni-Van, it doesn’t address the shortage of tertiary-educated workers among them.
We actually need foreigners to help fill available positions and attract more Foreign Direct Investment to Vanuatu.
In the knowledge economy, money and human capital are inextricably linked. The former will come on the condition that we welcome the latter.
Highly educated foreign workers can kickstart Vanuatu’s knowledge economy, inspire our youth to follow their example, and help educate the next generation of Ni-Van who will ultimately reap the benefits.
BRAIN GAIN: How education and immigration will help Vanuatu achieve true independence
Knowledge industries are high value, low-capital, and environmentally friendly. They’re also Vanuatu’s most promising means of achieving the economic self-reliance of a truly independent nation. But since they require a highly educated workforce, we’ll either have to grow our own or import human capital from abroad.
Due to our location, geography, climate and dearth of natural resources, what little our economy manages to export every year is dwarfed by the strategic imports we need to survive.
This is the hand we’ve been dealt and, as a result, we’ve been forced to rely on aid money from the international community. Ever since the colonial powers pulled up anchor, we’ve been at least to some extent dependent on the largesse of others. This has always left our leaders exposed to geopolitical pressure, flagrant or otherwise, when it comes to enacting legislation, for instance.
Until now, we haven’t been able to invest that foreign aid in ways that could reduce our dependence on it. Despite the flow of aid coming into the country year after year, we’re still performing poorly, as evidenced by our sluggish growth (2.7% for 2017-2018) and stagnating per capita income (a little over 3,000 USD in 2019). And that was before the coronavirus hit.
By any objective measure, it seems we simply cannot build a stronger, more self-reliant economy despite all the money we throw at it. A culture of foreign aid dependence may very well have contributed to this inertia.
Perhaps we’re developing the wrong economy?
The world has changed in 40 years. A large part of global economic growth no longer comes from muscles and machines as it did in the last century. Service industries such as software design, financial services, information and communications, marketing and support are some of the best-performing sectors in today’s world. They form what’s loosely termed the knowledge economy. It’s been a rapid transition with much disruption. When it comes to developing a truly independent Vanuatu, perhaps it’s just the kind of disruption we’ve been waiting for.
From the perspective of a small island nation, the main benefit of the knowledge economy is that it’s free of physical limitations. While a traditional economy is constrained by the amount of, say, arable land or fish stocks it possesses, many knowledge industries are only limited by the number of productive minds contributing to them. For Vanuatu, knowledge is the key to the economic liberation that is the true hallmark of an independent state.
It’s time
Our economic history of the last 40 years shows us that Vanuatu has a better shot at grabbing a slice of the global economic pie using brain power rather than the traditional, physically-limited sectors it has struggled to develop. During that time, regular injections of foreign aid have amounted to nothing more than life support. Now that our economy has been plunged into pandemic-driven recession, we are painfully aware that we cannot rely on a steady stream of tourists to save the day. This moment, perhaps more than any other in our history, is the time to remodel our economic growth plans around the knowledge economy.
Besides improving our trade balance, embracing industries of the future will have a positive impact on every resident’s well-being. Where the traditional physical economy requires lots of natural resources, arable land and fossil fuels, the knowledge economy runs almost solely on an educated labour force with reliable access to the Internet.
And because populations with these advanced skillsets are still relatively rare and unevenly distributed, employers can’t just pull up stakes and relocate to another country in search of lower labour costs, as frequently occurs in the manufacturing sector. Every gain in GDP produced by knowledge workers is ours for the keeping.
Education is liberation
Education is hugely important for every country as it results in a better-informed citizenry that becomes the very foundation of a resilient society. For Vanuatu its dividends would be even greater, as it can be the golden path to the kind of economic self-reliance that supports true, no-strings-attached independence.
While COVID-19 hit the island nation hard in most every other respect, it resulted in a positive paradigm shift in education. Online education makes learning easier and more effective, yet ensuring remote areas have access to high-speed Internet only adds to the government’s financial burden.
Given our current challenges, the road to true independence will be long and arduous. The Republic currently lags behind its regional and global peers by most metrics. Ni-Vanuatu receive 6.8 years of schooling on average; only 5% of us go beyond secondary education, while three times more (17%) have no formal education at all.
Our current supply of fresh post-secondary graduates meets just a fraction of market demand. Shortage of highly skilled employees, mostly managers, professionals and technicians, is evident in both public and private sectors in Vanuatu. It is estimated that the government needs nearly 4,600 skilled employees to meet the goals of the National Development Plan. The private sector also confirms that finding skilled employees is the top issue faced by local businesses; in a survey conducted in 2018, 60% of businesses said it was hard or very hard to recruit workers with the required skills. Even in positions that are already filled, only 51% of managers and 40% of professionals have earned higher degrees. This doesn’t mean the rest of them can’t perform just as well, but a formal education clearly couldn’t hurt.
The lack of education also explains the relatively high unemployment among Ni-Vanuatu youth who, with their limited qualifications, cannot fill vacancies. In fact, the majority of economically active Ni-Vanuatu are still engaged in the subsistence economy (non-wage employment), mostly in the agricultural sector.
Before it can transform the economy, the government needs to prioritise investment in education. It has taken promising steps with the Vanuatu Education and Training Sector Strategy 2020-2030, and the strategic directions taken under the National Sustainable Development Plan 2016-2030. Though there’s no question that education is a long term solution, it’s been a decade since the Word Bank first remarked that Vanuatu’s progress toward universal primary education was disappointing, and despite continuing reform, gains remain fragile. In 2018, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade pointed to the large number of widely dispersed schools, the limited supply of qualified teachers, and the high numbers of out-of-school children here, significant impediments to the most basic, universal primary education.
Speak English, French and Computers
Providing a universal primary education to Ni-Vanuatu children has been a struggle. And, because so much primary school is conducted in Bislama at the expense of French and English, attaining universal primary education would not have near the same positive long term economic impact as it would if school were conducted in any of the major languages of the world economy.
Right now, only 51% of Ni-Vanuatu speak English and a paltry 22% know French, even though both are official languages. This seriously limits prospects for attaining higher education domestically and overseas. While it would seem ironic that to achieve true independence Ni-Vanuatu need to teach their kids the languages of their former colonists, those languages hold much more sway than Bislama in the global knowledge economy, beginning in post-secondary schools where the jobs of the future are taught.
Bislama is a cornerstone of Ni-Vanuatu culture. It holds a treasure trove of stories and values of the Ni-Vanuatu ancestors and must be cherished and preserved for future generations. But as a primarily oral language with a negligible written canon it seriously limits opportunities for youth and is an impediment to the nation’s development. Literacy in English and French, on the other hand, opens doors to many of the world’s most prestigious institutions of education, and ultimately, to commerce.
One only has to look at the new generation of Chinese, Indian or Vietnamese students flooding Western universities, or at least that were before Covid hit. Even though tertiary education is available in their own countries, most choose to learn a foreign language and study overseas to acquire the skills necessary to take part in the fast-paced growth of their economies.
Of course, not everybody is destined for a scholarship at Harvard. It would however be a huge plus if Vanuatu youth were able to meet the linguistic requirements to at least enrol in online courses from foreign schools, some of which are quite affordable, and where they could receive a quality education all the way up to the graduate level.
Then there are the other pressing needs concerning our youth: computer literacy and Internet usage, currently at 4% and 5% in our schools respectively, are massive gaps that urgently need to be addressed. There is an obvious need to invest more in education and upgrading schools for the digital age. This key first step will trip a chain reaction of beneficial outcomes. Without it, another generation will never reach its full economic potential, the cycle of poverty will perpetuate and for the foreseeable future Vanuatu will depend on the crutch of foreign aid to support its very existence.
Kickstarting the knowledge economy
Any large-scale program to spur education will need government funding… and time. This becomes a chicken-and-egg conundrum, because only the knowledge economy can deliver the kind of substantial growth and resulting tax revenues needed to fund the educational push. The way out of this predicament is to attract immediate investment from abroad. In that sense Foreign Direct Investment can act as a real-time kickstarter for Vanuatu’s knowledge engine.
Right now FDI stands at 4.5% of GDP and has already created around 9,000 jobs (21% of total wage employment). More had been confirmed but is currently held up by the pandemic.
Import talent
Due to the lack of highly educated workers among Ni-Vanuatu, they often need to be brought in by foreign investors. This means that inflows of money and people into Vanuatu are inextricably linked, especially in the knowledge industries on which our future depends. Currently a majority of the 900 foreigners holding work permits occupy management and professional positions, bringing valuable skills to the country. If we’re to attract more FDI to high-value industries, we’ll need to open our doors to more skilled foreigners. Brains are already becoming a more valuable import than any piece of machinery in the “old” economy.
Reserved occupations: a double-edged sword
However, just as it needs more skilled foreign workers to offset the shortage in the local supply, the government is simultaneously narrowing their employment opportunities.
Vanuatu has long sought to protect its citizens from unfair job competition; for more than two decades, its list of “reserved occupations” has included drivers, machinery operators, receptionists, street vendors, bartenders and other jobs that plenty of local workers are perfectly able and willing to hold. This form of protectionism is common around the world and is sensible policy… as long as it does not impede wider economic growth.
But in June 2020, the policy took a problematic turn. 33 positions were added to the reserved list, including many of the kind of managerial, professional and technical positions (ISCO classes 1 to 3) that were already hard to fill with domestic talent, like financial controller, HR manager, auditor and IT specialist.
While it may be a political reflex to protect citizens in the job market, the current skilled labour shortage demonstrates there just aren’t many trained Ni-Van candidates to protect. In fact, not only does the economy need foreigners to fill the void, but barring them could make their positions disappear altogether.
Currently here are about 500 foreigners working as managers, professionals and technicians who may lose their jobs in Vanuatu as a result of additions to the reserved list. Instead of replacing them with non-existent qualified Ni-Vanuatu, employers will redirect workloads to remote workers overseas, or they may even relocate a business to another country. Even if they were to hire less-qualified Ni-Vanuatu as a gesture of good will, this may affect quality and productivity, which could result in business losses, destroying all the much-needed jobs they had created. Either way, the law that started as necessary protectionism could easily end up harming the very job market it was intended to defend.
No one can steal what you don’t have
At 1.1% of the total population, the share of foreign immigrants in Vanuatu is already among the lowest in the region. At the same time, about 9,000 Ni-Vanuatu have moved abroad and another 5,000 take on seasonal work in Australia and New Zealand. Vanuatu’s Commissioner of Labour, Murielle Meltenoven, recently remarked on the high number of workers that responded to the demand for labour abroad. We must point out how an equally high number of foreigners are needed to offset the labour shortage here, albeit on the other end of the skill spectrum.
When it comes to jobs requiring higher education, foreigners do not compete with the local workforce, with its glaring deficiency in this area. Instead, they complement it with specialized skills acquired abroad. But their contribution goes beyond their own personal economic output. The assurance they will be eligible to work is one of the key reasons their employer chose to operate in Vanuatu in the first place, and why future investors will follow.
Again, in the knowledge economy money and human capital are inextricably linked, which explains why labour mobility sits at the top of any international company’s checklist when evaluating which countries are good candidates for setting up shop. Further restrictions could have the effect of pulling Vanuatu way down the global ease-of-doing-business rankings, where it already sits at number 107 of 190.
While they fill in for non-existent local candidates, skilled foreign workers can also help train the next generation of Ni-Vanuatu who aspire to do their jobs. Their mere presence can be an inspiration, as they introduce our youth to the many intellectual pursuits and opportunities that exist out there in the wide, wide world, and demonstrate how a suitably industrious individual can make a truly fulfilling career in one of them.
Extend the opportunity ladder
Still, the list of reserved occupations remains a powerful tool for preserving opportunities for Ni-Vanuatu. Foreign companies should not be allowed to supply their own worker if there’s one available locally. May the sad experience of poor countries from Namibia to Cambodia, where Chinese construction companies bring in their own workers along with a complete service ecosystem, serve as a warning to us all. The net gain in local job creation and downstream spending in many of these cases is close to zero.
But the list should not become a deterrent to those foreigners whose skillsets are not available in the local labour supply. It’s in the nation’s best interest to attract people with the highest possible skills. When this happens, opportunities on the lower rungs of the employment ladder are created, while business success and expansion extends the ladder overall, leaving ample room for those who aspire to ever-higher rungs.
Instead of barring them from certain occupations, the government should do the exact opposite: simplify admission of high-skilled foreigners and even create incentives for them to come. Hong Kong has a specially designed Technology Talent Admission Scheme for technical professionals. New Zealand removes the labour market test for applicants who match their official skill shortage list (mostly in the ISCO 1-3 and 7 classes). Singapore lets applicants skip that test above a certain salary threshold.
For Vanuatu, the last approach seems the easiest to implement and control. Above a certain salary, foreign workers could apply for a simplified, low-frills, long-duration, zero-fee visa. This would make Vanuatu more appealing to foreign service industry investors. In addition to the long-term macro-economic benefits of developing Vanuatu’s knowledge economy, a healthy portion of these high salaries will immediately end up in the local economy, helping pay for education among other things.
High-salary workers can even be invited without having their employer move to Vanuatu at all. In the knowledge economy, remote work rules, especially since pandemic lockdowns around the world have forced the most conservative companies to embrace it. Whether you’re a freelancer or an employee, all you need is an Internet connection. This explains the recent creation of Digital Nomad visas by jurisdictions like Estonia, Barbados and Bermuda, the latter two small tropical island nations that were devastated by lost tourism revenue. Ring a bell?
Beyond making up for lost tourism, highly educated workers are the most valuable import when it comes to kickstarting Vanuatu’s knowledge economy and educating the next generation of Ni-Van, who will ultimately reap the benefits.
The Citizenship by Investment program is not just a catalyst for the development of Vanuatu, it’s nothing less than the expression of our sovereignty.
At only 4700 km2, Vanuatu makes up a miniscule 131690th of the earth’s surface.
At $934M, it accounts for less than one 87552nd of world GDP (2019).
By most known scales of measure, our country is an insignificant speck.
By most, save for one: national sovereignty. In this category we occupy a glorious 195th of the spotlight!
That means something: we are a full member of the chorus of nations, with all the prerogatives of an independent state. Like Canada, like Australia, we have the unalterable right to self- determination. Like France, like Japan, we enjoy the freedom to occupy our territory, establish our government, make our laws. The only restrictions other nations impose on us are those we accept of our own freewill – in theory at least – within the framework of international agreements.
We still need to overcome multiple challenges when it comes to our development. We need to invest in infrastructure and education so that our people can move on to a brighter future. But how do we pay for it?
Our lands, waters and soils feed us but do not make us rich. There’s tourism of course, but even that’s limited by our great distance from major markets, and has been obliterated by Covid. The Internet can free us from our isolation and, who knows, propel us one day into the knowledge economy, but for that to happen we will need an educated workforce and motivated investors.
For the time being, Vanuatu continues to receive development aid; but if we want to fully assume our independence, we cannot remain reliant forever on the generosity of others.
So how do sustain growth in an autonomous fashion? We are hardly spoiled when it comes to natural resources, location, climate, earthquake activity, and additional factors that contribute to the success of other states. On the other hand, we are exactly as independent.
Like them, we enjoy the privilege of accepting funds from other countries in exchange for sovereign deeds. We express this privilege every time we register a vessel, domicile a business, grant a financial license or bestow citizenship. Territories that belong to other countries, like New Caledonia or French Polynesia, or federated states or provinces like Victoria or Ontario, do not have this freedom, however rich they may be.
Among the 195 nations in our select club, 77 of us offer an immigrant investor program. And among these, 13 offer citizenship while the others offer residency (which often leads to citizenship after a few years).
The programs vary; there’s a world of difference between a U.S. EB-5 visa (minimum 1.8M USD) designed to create jobs, and a Vanuatu passport ($130,000). But what they all have in common is they cherry-pick their candidates to make sure they make a positive contribution to their host country.
And contribute they do. Under our two current programs (VCP and DSP), from 2017 to 2019, 5,515 Vanuatu passports were issued generating 26.8 BVt. The money went to pay down loans, subsidize essential industries, develop infrastructure, provide disaster relief, establish study grants and even finance the Pacific Mini Games. In 2019, it accounted for over one third of state budget revenue!
Add to that the 100% green nature of the program, and citizenship via investment is emerging as an essential catalyst for attaining the goals under the 2030 National Sustainable Development Plan (The People’s Plan).
For their part, we can’t say that our new compatriots abuse their status; the vast majority have never set foot in the country and probably have no intention of doing so. They can’t even vote here as long as they maintain citizenship elsewhere. What they mostly like are our legal and financial regimes, visa-free access to 129 countries, and in the case of the Chinese, the chance to get out from under Beijing’s thumb.
You would think there’s something in it for everyone. But this is far from the case.
In a detailed report recently commissioned by the Vanuatu Citizenship Office we’ve learned that the program suffers from two serious perception problems. And the main criticism isn’t an economic one but moral:
“Vanuatu is still a young country and for many people, the struggle for independence is still very much alive in their memories. From that point of view, giving citizenship to outsiders is often associated with giving away national identity, even if it results in significant social contributions.”
This position was expressed by many of our politicians, especially in the opposition parties. A lot would no doubt like to see the program abolished as soon as another source of revenue can be found to replace it.
Certainly, improvements to the program are needed, especially to strengthen oversight of candidates to meet the demands of the European Union. Vanuatu must continue to honour its commitments against money laundering and the financing of terrorism, which were recognized and applauded by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) three years ago (even if the European Commission is slow to recognize these efforts themselves). It is not in our interest for our passport to become a liability at Schengen customs, as it would lose value. As such, the Citizenship Office’s report made excellent recommendations for administrative and legal adjustments, many of which were quickly implemented soon after its publication.
But it is wrong to assert as opponents of the program do, again according to the report, that it is a “very real threat to the sovereignty of the country.” On the contrary, it is a celebration of our sovereignty, directly resulting from our independence 40 years ago. If we were still a condominium, our citizenship and immigration politics would probably be inspired by those of France and the United Kingdom, where the situation is different. But we are sovereign and have decided to provide ourselves with a means of sustainable development using the resources available to us.
Look at it another way. Imagine if the program would continue at its current pace, or an average of 1800 passports per year (VSP and DSP combined). That would represent 0.6% of the population, less than the present rate of population growth of 1.73%. It would not risk upsetting our national identity, especially since most visa-holders never set foot in the country (so they never actually live here), don’t vote (so do not influence our choices as a society) and are selected for their upstanding character (so there’s little risk in them committing a crime). On the other hand, the 20 billion vatus they inject into the economy each year let us improve in a very significant way our health and education systems, so we can collectively take better care of our children and seniors.
Meanwhile, another source of revenue, international aid, potentially gives others leverage over our politics, which truly compromises our sovereignty. Investment citizenship simply reduces this threat by earning foreign exchange in a way we see fit, as is our prerogative as an independent state.
Catherine Amusen is Secretary Offshore Corporate Services at AJC.
We asked her 5 questions to get to know her better.
1. Where do you come from ?
I am from the lovely island of Ambrym, one of the islands in Vanuatu part of Malampa Province.
I grew up in the village of Mele-Maat in which I always called home. The Mele-Maat Village is situated 1 km away from the Port Vila Town.
2. Why did you move to Port Vila ?
Due to natural disaster, my grandparents move to Port Vila back in 1950. So ever since, we live in Port Vila.
3. What are your favorite hobbies ?
Favorite hobbies are watching movies on weekends with families and friends, reading a book now and then, listening to music, hang out with friends and like to travel.
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years ?
Professionally, I’d like to be seen as someone with deep experience in the corporate sector (covering the main areas of law, company law, insurance law, Financial Dealers Law, etc…) in 5 years’ time. I am also excited to take on drafting legal responsibilities and expand on my legal career path.
Marine Dondelinger-Mathis is Director, Head Manager of Corporate Services and Compliance at AJC.
We asked Marine 5 questions to get to know her better.
1. Where do you come from ?
I grew up in the East of the France, in Lorraine. Most of the members of my Family and my very dear Friends are still living there which makes it probably the place I cherish the most.
2. Why did you move to Port Vila ?
I am from that type of people who never stop having new challenges, and leaving everything to go to the other side of the planet, discovering a new culture, new people, and giving me new professional objectives, was definitely an exciting project !
3. What are your favorite hobbies ?
Walking my dog every day, enjoying nature, cooking, drinking wine with my friends, listening to every crazy idea that comes to my mind, and do it !
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years ?
Isn’t it the beauty of the future of not knowing ?
What I like the most is probably the people, now friends, I met in Vanuatu. Opening up yourself to something new will always bring you positive in your life. Vanuatu is new at all levels. People, environment, lifestyle, food…
AJC recognized for its contribution to the 2021 Doing Business reports.
Founded in 2002, the Doing Business project is a series of annual studies measuring the regulations that enhance business activity. It is now a World Bank Group flagship publication.
The reports use objective, quantitative indicators on business regulation and the protection of property rights in order to rank 190 economies and selected cities at the subnational and regional level.
Doing Business covers 12 areas of business regulation:
starting a business,
dealing with construction permits,
getting electricity,
registering property,
getting credit,
protecting minority investors,
paying taxes,
trading across borders,
enforcing contracts,
resolving insolvency
regulation on employing workers
contracting with the government
To collect reliable data from those 190 economies, the 2021 Doing Business reports relied on more than 48,000 professionals across a host of industries.
Maire Brenda Pipite is Secretary – Offshore Corporate Services – at AJC.
We asked Marie Brenda 5 questions to get to know her better.
1. Where do you come from ?
I come from the island of Santo – grew up in Luganville (the capital) / Port Olry (my village) and also here in Port Vila.
2. Why did you move to Port Vila ?
I came to Vila with my father who is a politician and works in Port Vila, my mother is a teacher and was transferred to the Port Vila Institute of Technology. So I had to move here with them and continue my studies here at the French school in Colardo.
3. What are your favorite hobbies ?
Most of the time, after working hours, I prefer going straight home and spend time with my family, especially with my little daughter. But sometimes, after working hours, I go out with my friends/cousins to relax a little (kava sessions/sports/etc…).
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years ?
Professionally, in 5 or 10 years I still see myself working at AJC (I hope).
Personally, I see myself owning a property and building my house on it, etc…
Nature and people’s smiles. If I had to convince someone to come to Vanuatu, I would suggest that they come and discover the volcanoes and the Gaul jump.
Nathalie Lawac is Secretary – Onshore Administrative Services – at AJC.
We asked her 5 questions to get to know her better.
1. Where do you come from ?
I come from a small island called ATCHIN which is located on the island of Mallicolo in the province of MALAMPA.
2. Why did you move to Port Vila ?
I arrived in Port Vila in 1990 to continue my studies at INTV (Vanuatu National Institute of Technology. In 1991, I obtained my CAP accounting diploma.
In 1992, I got a post of accounting secretary in the Catholic Education Directorate. (DEC), which allowed me to stay in Port Vila.
3. What are your favorite hobbies ?
When I have free time, I do the housework.
My favorite hobby is cooking, gardening, listening to music or visiting family.
In the evening, I like to watch TV.
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years ?
Professionally: improve my knowledge and skills in English (oral and written)
We asked her 5 questions to get to know her better.
1. Where do you come from ?
I am originally from the island of Malo, but I never went to Malo and therefore lived all my childhood in Port Vila.
2. Why did you move to Port Vila ?
I was born in Port Vila.
3. What are your favorite hobbies ?
I can never find enough time to do everything I want, but I love reading, listening to music and especially having a good time with my 3 grandchildren.
We asked her 5 questions to get to know her better.
1. Where do you come from ?
I am from the continent call AMERICA!
So don’t be surprise to hear me say I am american. More precisely I am from Canada and the province of Quebec. Quebec is a french speaking province among the rest of the north continent where people speaks English.
I grew up with four distinctive season and winter is a special time of the year in Quebec when all the trees loose their leaves, and the snow surrounds us, lots of it… I have fond memories of sliding in the snow for hours till my hands and feet were frozen.
2. Why did you move to Port Vila ?
After 24 years of winter, I moved to Port Vila for the exoticism of the place, to discover the beach, the blue clear water and the warm ocean. When I started universities in Montreal, Canada, I met people from around the world and I wanted to travel and discover the world. I knew I would not stay where I was, I caught the travelit desease!
3. What are your favorite hobbies ?
I like to do Sports, running, swimming , I am trying to defeat time by keeping good sport habits. I like to play game with my kids, in my family we all like to win the game!
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years ?
Personally, I would love to travel and continue discovering new countries , new culture, discover the beautiful nature in the world. Professionally, I like to share knowledge with my colleagues, and one day perhaps I could take more time to teach accounting to young people in this country.
We asked her 5 questions to get to know her better.
1. Where do you come from ?
I’m from Vanuatu and specifically from Pentecost Island and living in Port Vila which is the capital of the country. I love my Island because it is the place that I was born, grew up and started going to school.
2. Why did you move to Port Vila ?
I moved to Port Vila to continue my studies at Montmartre Secondary School.
3. What are your favorite hobbies ?
– Cooking: My best hobbies in my life. I love cooking homemade meals because they contain less fat and healthy and very nutritious. Homemade salad dressing, cooking hot breakfast, make stock of ingredients, doing pies and many more….
– Travel: I also love travelling to see different types of cultures around the world.
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years ?
Professionally: I will be looking for opportunities to expand my role to work towards my goal.
Personally: Being or becoming a chef with more technique or more perfect!
This is part of the metropolitan area around Quebec city. Quebec is the Capital city of Quebec province and the most francophone city of Canada. About 750,000 people live in that city. Winter are long and cold and that makes people that live in such environment people that live more inside the house than outside.
2. Why did you move to Port Vila ?
The adventure, the opportunity, the challenge… and I stayed because I love the country. I love the atmosphere, the climate, the nation and the population. The vibe of Port Vila, the diversity of culture, and language. The friendliness and kindness of the people, …
3. What are your favorite hobbies ?
These days I run a bit, I play squash and I play tennis with my kids. Also, I try to spend time with my kids during week-ends, playing card games, ping pong, chess, etc.
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years ?
This is a difficult question. I hope I will be healthy and still have a lot of energy. I believe my future is highly link with Vanuatu future. I hope to be able to have employee to take over my role in 10 years as I would like to slow down a bit then.
Port Vila is as multicultural and diverse as New York but it has the size of a village and this make this city unique in the whole world. I love the smile and the kindness of the Vanuatu. I love the mix between the tradition and the new world. The mix between the technology and the tradition, the unspoiled and underdevelopment with the development, the slowness and the quickness, some things are done with urgency while other take ages. It is a really young country, with a young population and it has hope and energy and the future is ahead not behind.
Our Website Development and Design project with Global Treasury Management is to give them online visibility that showcases their mission and what they do.
However, this website must evolve with the eventual creation of product and service offerings.
We have therefore created a site allowing them to easily modify their website as their business grows without having to start from scratch.
We have worked on a modern design to highlight their international presence while enhancing the professionalism of their work.
Project: Global Treasury Management – Website Development
Document Verification Software is document verification software aimed at different sectors such as Financial Institution, Insurance, Government, Travel & Hospitality, Education, Healthcare, …
The objective of our client is to be able to promote its software but above all to invite clients to request a live demonstration.
The creation of an onepage website was the best option to perfectly meet the expectations of Document Verification Software.
Project: Document Verification Software – Website Development
