INVESTMENT POLICY AND RELATED
Keeping you informed on all the latest investment and relevant policies affecting your business undertakings.
CURRENT POLICIES AND REGULATIONS
Keeping you up to date with the current investment policy regimes.
Foreign Investment Act No. 25 of 2019
The Foreign Investment Act No 15 of 2019 is Vanuatu's foreign investment legislation that guides investment regulations and facilitation within the country. The Act focuses on improving Vanuatu's investment climate through a policy focused mandate.
One key function of the VIPA Board under the Act is to determine, approve and monitor investment policies and other relevant policies and strategic directions that contribute to achieving the mission and vision of the Agency. In this light, the VIPA Management will be screening and determining all applications whilst the Board of VIPA is focused on policy matters.
National Investment Policy Statement
The National Investment Policy Statement (NIPS) outlines Vanuatu's investment climate, guiding investors through key sectors and overall doing business essentials. The NIPS works in alignment with key sectoral policies already in implementation in Vanuatu. The policy statement is further aligned to the Trade Policy Framework which outlines key recommendations to improve Vanuatu's investment climate. These documents altogether should provide a roadmap for the Vanuatu Government to ensure realistic investment opportunities are promoted through a focused approach.
Investment Procedures
The investment guide provides investors with 7 key steps that investors must go through to set up a business in Vanuatu. The 7 steps process begins with registering your business, applying for necessary permits and registering yourself as an employer with the Vanuatu National Provident Fund
Investment Disputes and Settlements
A dispute involving a foreign investor who carries out an investment in Vanuatu is to be dealt with as if it were a dispute involving a citizen of Vanuatu. Furthermore the Convention of Settlement of Investment Disputes is to apply to the management and settlement of disputes under the VFIPA Act.
Investment Regulations
The Foreign Investment Act requires investors to complete different forms of applications in different stages of their investment life. A first time investor needs to complete a New Application form. Once established an existing investor will be required to complete an Annual Survey each year, due on the 28th of February. Varying your investment activity (new or additional) or investment ownership requires you to complete the Variation form.
Other Relevant Sector Policies
Key policies are in effect as a guide to what the Vanuatu Government's priority focus areas in development are. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the Government has shifted focus to the primary sector including health and education. The policies that exist are what each Government department had in place before the pandemic and new and updated focuses will be made available online.
Vanuatu's Reserved List of Investments
The Reserved and Restricted List of Investments for Vanuatu outlines which key investment activities are reserved for Ni Vanuatu citizen only or have a specific threshold of investment value to be met by the investor. It is important that investors are made aware of the activities currently on the list. The list is amended every 2 years of which the first review will be done in February 2022.
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