Department of Industry

Quarterly Newsletter

V O L U M E I S S U E S 1

P S G S P V I S I B I L I T Y P R O G R A M M E O N T R A D E P O L I C I E S

F O C U S E S O N I N D U S T R I A L B I L L C O N S U L T A T I O N S .

Sitting from (L-R) Chairman of VCMB, Presi-

dent of Sanma province, MP Alfred Maoh, Min-

ister Toara Daniel, MP Havo Moli, Director of

Industry and Dr. Stuart Eugene (UNDP).

A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Tour-

ism, Trade, Commerce and Ni Vanuatu Business

(MTTCNVB) travelled to Santo on the 17th – 19th

of February 2014 to progress further with the suc-

cessful implementation of the visibility pro-

gramme on trade policy funded by the EU under

the trade component of the Primary Sector

Growth Support Programme (PSGSP).

The second round of visibility in the Sanma Prov-

ince was particularly important as it focussed on

increasing awareness on the draft Industrial bill,

one of the key deliverables of the MTTCNVB.

Continue on page 3...

The Manufacturing Division has revised the Assessment on

Duty Exemption form and have organized quarterly assess-

ment visit to manufacturing industries. The Cellovilla Ltd es-

tablished for over 14 years although there are business chal-

lenges faced, it manages to maintain the production margin

between break-even and shut-down of its production line. To

date, Cellovilla continues to produce two types of value

added products for consumption in the country.

Number of employees are: 1 non citizen with wages paid per

annum for 2 million vatu and 15 citizens with a total salary

paid per annum for 12 million.

The Celovila Ltd all raw materials are of 0% used locally and

100% imported for manufacturing and the company average

industry utilization capacity is at 30%. Expected sales reve-

nue per year is more than 180 million vatu over concentrated

on the domestic market at 100% and at 0% expected level of

export. Additional investment of 15 million vatu has been

injected in looking at purchasing of processing equipments

in concentrating on product diversification.

Continue on page 2...

F I R S T C O M P L I A N C E A S S E S S M E N T F O R C E L L O V I L A L T D .

Industry staff interview with Cellovila

Ltd Manager Jean Erick and his Sec-

retary & Finance Officer.

Toiletries Production

Imported raw materials

P A G E 1

PSGSP Visibility

Programme on Trade

Policies focuses on

Industrial Bill

1

First compliance as-

sessment for Cellovila

ltd

1

New Minister for

Trades, Tourism,

Commerce & Ni

Vanuatu business

visits to Industry dept.

2

PISC committee con-

sults Chiko

3

Asian and Pacific

Coconut Community

(APCC)

4

Solar food drying

training-Taloa

5

Handing over of final

industry development

bill to Industry dept.

5

National trade devel-

opment committee

6

DOI consultation on

draft marketing stra-

tegic plan

6

Oil of Paradise 7

International finance

Corporation work-

shop (IFC)

7

Saufali Youths VCO

products

8

Sanma Community

economic development

8

Information sharing 8

Duty exemption appli-

cations

9

Training opportuni-

ties for two cocoa lead

farmers

10

Facilitating Tamarind

chutney logistics

10

Sector priorities and

challenges

11

Staff Profile 12

Inside this Issue

P A G E 2

D E P A R T M E N T O F I N D U S T R Y

Production Value Chain

Raw materials imported being processed and value to its final output/product

purely means that there has been a physical representation of the various proc-

esses involved in producing goods, starting with raw materials and ending with the

delivered product. It is based on the notion of value-added at the different stages

of production level.

Problems Encountered

The problem or challenges encountered by Cellovila is the high importation of

product of the same product line especially toiletry products produced by

Cellovila Ltd. The main Super market (Au Bon Marche) though has been Cellovila’s

major market but however they had also imported the same type of products from

New Zealand and Australia which the selling price is lower than the Cellovila prod-

uct selling price. Another market that destroys Cellovila’s market was Punjas import

which also imported the same product line of toiletries under MSG FTA imported

from Fiji which is imported at zero tariff rate result selling at the lower retail price

compare to Cellovila.

So Cellovila had asked if the government can protect their industry so that they

can produce up to the highest capacity in order to supply all the markets/shops

around Vanuatu considering the expansion of the industry and more employment

to be created.

Honorable Willie JIMMY Tapangararua, the new minister for the Ministry

of Trades, Tourism, Commerce and Ni Vanuatu Business commenced his

role by visiting all government departments within the ministry. He visited

the Department of Industry on the 3rd day of March. On his first visit into

the department the Director, Mr. Jimmy Rantes welcomed him and his

delegates and introduced them to the staff and gave a brief history of

this established department and its roles within the public sector and

Vanuatu as a whole.

The Director elaborated on the overview of the department based on the

summary of the current proposed bill, the National Industry Policy (NIP),

Work plans for 2014 and provided a brief summary of current projects.

The minister also had the opportunity to explore the variety of products

on display which were obtained by the hardworking staff . The Minister

was very impressed with the many changes taking place in comparison

to the past and acknowledged the hard work and achievements of the

Director and the department staff and expressed his hopes to work more

with the department into the future.

Director J. Rantes briefs presentation to the Minister.

Director of Industry introduces staff and Department to

new minister Hon. Willie .T. Jimmy.

Finished & packaged toiletries.

Plastic Garbage & Industry bag Pro-

duction .

Imported raw materials

Finished & Packaged bags

C O N T I N U E F I R S T C O M P L I A N C E F O R C E L L O V I L A L T D

N E W M I N I S T E R F O R T R A D E S , T O U R I S M , C O M M E R C E A N D N I V A N U A T U B U S I -

N E S S , H O N . W I L L I E . T . J I M M Y V I S I T S T O I N D U S T R Y D E P A R T M E N T .

P A G E 3 V O L U M E I S S U E S 1

The one-day workshop of the visibility

exercise was held in the VNPF conference

room. Hon. Toara Daniel (Minister of Tour-

ism, Trade, Commerce, and Ni-Vanuatu

Business) in his address, informed about

his Ministry’s commitment to the develop-

ment of the industrial bill, following the

Council of Minister’s (COM) decisions

58/2013 and 204/2013.

Hon. Toara appointed an Industry Bill

Technical Working Group (IBTWG) made

up of key line ministries such as SLO,

Trade, Agriculture and Customs to start

working on this bill. The first round of con-

sultations was conducted and a first vali-

dation workshop undertaken in 2013. This

is the second round of consultations

aimed at preparing the draft bill finaliza-

tion, ready to be tabled in Parliament.

The Minister further explained that the ap-

pointment of the Industry Bill Technical

Working Group (IBTWG) was made to

monitor the progress of the bill and to

make sure that the elements included in

the bill mirror the allocation of responsibil-

ity between Ministry of Tourism, Trade,

Commerce and Ni Vanuatu Business and

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries,

Livestock and Bio-security.

The workshop was another successful

activity that has taken place as part of

the consultation process of the draft In-

dustrial Bill finalization. All feedback from

participants were considered and the

MTTCNVB herein acknowledges all par-

ticipants contributions. The MTTCNVB also

acknowledges the European Union and

its PSGSP program for the organization

and facilitation of very important visibility

exercise in Santo.

The Minister asked all the

stakeholders to provide con-

structive inputs and comments

so that this bill can be finalized.

Minister Toara also explained

the four main pillars that are

reflected in the National Indus-

try Policy (NIP)

Improve economic diver-

sification and domestic

value added through en-

hancing the productivity,

competitiveness and the

capacity of manufacturing

sector to move up the

value chain

Enhance Linkages and

spillovers among eco-

nomic sectors

Create an enabling envi-

ronment for the private

sector as the main engine

for economic growth and

enhance its productivity,

capacity utilization and

trade capacity

Contribute to the improve-

ment of the merchandise

trade balance and bal-

P O U L T R Y I N D U S T R Y S T E E R I N G C O M M I T T E E ( P I S C ) C O N S U L T S W I T H C H I K O

The 26th of February 2014 marks the first round of the Poultry Industry Steering Committee (PISC) consultation with the only

poultry company in Vanuatu, Chiko Farm. This consultation is based on the COM Paper and took place at the Depart-

ment of Trades and Industry conference room. Other government sectors and stakeholders like Bio-security, Livestock,

DSPPAC and DARD were in attendance as members to PISC. The Council of Ministers (COM) approved the implementa-

tions of a targeted import substitution policy for the poultry industry (COM decision 5/2014). Following are grounds

agreed upon PISC and Chiko to work with.

Crops Contract Growing Operations: Contract Growers Programme (CGP)

The requirements of this program were agreed upon the PISC and the

Chiko Farm in allowing the contract growers to be eligible to participate:

Farm site: Minimum production capacity: 500kg of produce

Location must be:

Within agriculture zone with leasehold title

All-weather road leading to and inside the farm, passable to light vehi-

cle, 6 and 10 wheeler truck.

Continue to page 4... Members of the PISC and CFPL at the conference room

during the consultation.

C O N T I N U E P S G S P V I S I B I L I T Y P R O G R A M M E O N T R A D E P O L I C I E S

V O L U M E I S S U E S 1 P A G E 3

Continue PISC consults with CFPL

Quality and quantity requirements

Supporting technical services

Information recording materials

Ready market and bet-ter price

Competitive payment agreement

Application Process

Accomplishment of

contract growing ap-

plication form

Site or farm inspection

PISC approval of pro-

posed site or farm

Submission of letter of

intent

Issuance of letter of

commitment

Submission of permits

Clearance of farm site

Contract signing

Interested grower

Demonstrated ex-

perience on com-

mercial crop pro-

duction

Ability to con-

stantly supply mar-

ket quantity at

consistent quality

Must present in the

letter of intent to

PISC your opera-

tions/business plan

Must attend a

seminar on crops

production re-

quirements and

standards at the

Chiko Farm Prod-

ucts Ltd (CFPL)

Obligations of Contracting

Parties

Chiko Farm Products Ltd.

shall provide:

Farm plans, design and specifications

Seminar/training on ba-

sic and required husbandry

Vanuatu government through

PISC shall provide:

Production advisory and

support services (Agric-

Dept.)

Processing and mar-ket requirements support services - (Industry and Agri-culture Dept.)

Monitoring of con-tract grower pro-gramme (PISC)

Seek donor funding support on behalf of the growers.

Import duty exemp-tion on capital equipment and other relevant materials

The contract grower shall

provide:

Agricultural land with capacity to produce at least 500kg of the pro-duce required

Feeds ware-house

Labor and secu-rity

Crops produc-tion equipment (optional but necessary for large scale op-erations)

Maintenance of farm facilities, roads and equipment

Proper farm

management

12 years Vanuatu has been the member of the Asian and Pacific Community (APCC)

however with its outstanding membership fees, Vanuatu has not benefited from this mem-

bership nor taken part in APCC coconut development programs. Mr. Uron Salum, Execu-

tive Director, APCC, made a visit to Vanuatu especially to highlight the benefits and op-

portunities Vanuatu has missed out on over 12 years period and to encourage the coun-

try.

APCC is an intergovernmental organization of sixteen full member countries: Federated

States of Micronesia , Fiji ,India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall islands, PNG, Philip-

pines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu and Vietnam. Asso-

ciate members are: Jamaica and Kenya. The APCC’s mission is to assist the member

countries to increase productivity, reduce cost of production, adopt integrated coconut

based farming system, encourage organic farming, promote farm level processing, pro-

mote product diversification/ value addition and by-product utilization, improve quality

standards, intensify market promotional activities and research, harmonize trade related

issues and develop human resources for effective transfer of technology.

Acting Prin. Manufacturing officer Mr. Wen-sie Naki attended the APCC workshop.

A S I A N A N D P A C I F I C C O C O N U T C O M M U N I T Y ( A P C C )

D E P A R T M E N T O F I N D U S T R Y

P A G E 4

S O L A R F O O D D R Y I N G T R A I N I N G - T A L O A

The Department of Industry (DoI) has taken another step forward to conduct a week long

training on Solar Food Drying and Preservation Training to women in Taloa Village Nguna

island. Much like anything in nature, no policy objectives of a government department

can grow unless it is delivered to the people whom will enforce it. Without the diversity of

thought, or the influx of new knowledge and skills to be transferred to the communities will

ever thrive, which is why the Department of Industry’s ongoing assistance to the commu-

nities is so vital. A key objective in the National Industry Policy (NIP) of the Department of

Industry is to improve Economic diversification and domestic value added through en-

hancing the productivity, competitiveness and the capacity of manufacturing sector to

move up the value chain (PAA 2.3; 4.5). By implementing this key objective, the Depart-

ment of Industry through support from the Pacific Agribusiness Research for Development

Initiatives (PARDI) under Australia Center for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) is

keen to provide a funding support for Tamarind value chain analysis including other fruits

processing and training for selected producers around Efate, Mosso, Nguna and Lelepa.

From the 10th to 14th of March 2014, the DoI had jointly collaborated with the GIZ Climate

Change Department and Shefa Provincial Government to organize a week’s training on

Solar Food Drying and Preservation Training to women in Taloa Village Nguna Island. De-

spite the bad weather and the cyclone Lusi which struck some islands in Vanuatu, the

training was completed successfully.

The official opening of the training took place on Monday 10th by Mr. Reuben Tamara

(Councilor of Nguna Pele). He acknowledged the Department of Industry, GIZ Climate

Change and Shefa Provincial Government for funding this training.

During the one week training, the women who attended learnt how to make juice from

tropical fruits, jams and how to preserve some of these foods by drying them in the solar

dryer. They also learnt how to extract Tamarind syrup and to use the flesh to dry in the so-

lar dryer for sugar coated candies. Once the product is ready, they learnt how to sterilize

bottles for packaging.

The official handing over of the Solar Dryer took place on Friday 14th March from the Di-

rector of the Department of Industry to the president of the Naki Taloa Women Associa-

tion. The president of the women association acknowledges the Department of Industry

and its collaborators for the support and for organizing the training that will help the

women in the future in terms of preservation of fruits as value added products.

As the highest priority to the Department of Industry, the Ministry of Trades, Tourism, Commerce and Ni Vanuatu business through the Department of In-dustry successfully obtained the sole ownership of the Industry Development Bill through a formal handing over ceremony by Dr. Stuart Eugene (UNDP con-sultant) on the 20th of February early this year. The ceremony occurred within the Department of Trades and Industry conference room after a two day com-prehensive consultation with the stakeholders and private sectors. The consul-tation occurred in two locations namely the Sanma Province and Port Vila. Hon. Minister Toara Daniel conveyed a word of acknowledgement on behalf of the ministry and departments in appreciation of the hard work done by Dr.Eugene. He added that the new Industry Development Bill will impact greatly the economic sector of Vanuatu after was successfully passed during the first ordinary session of parliament this year and continues by presenting as a token of appreciation a tamtam gift to Dr.Eugene.

Additional remarks were given by the Director General Mr. Marokon Alilee and the Director of Industry Mr. Jimmy Rantes. Mr. Rantes extended his acknowledgement to his hardworking in-dustry staff for their commitment and support. Dr. Eugene not only developed the bill but also had the liberty to compose a song to add flavor to the bill. The ceremony concluded with a kava ceremony and the Industry bill song by Dr.Eugene himself as a compliment of the

achievement.

H A N D I N G O V E R O F T H E F I N A L I N D U S T R Y D E V E L O P -

M E N T B I L L T O T H E D E P A R T M E N T O F I N D U S T R Y .

Dr. Eugene handing over the Final Ind. Dev. Bill

to Hon. Minister Toara and DG .M. Alilee and

Industry Dept. Director Mr. Rantes.

Presenting tam tam gift from Minister to Dr Eugene.

Participants at the Training with

Director of Industry, Mr. Rantes .

Handing over of solar dryer from

Mr. Jimmy Rantes (Director) to

President of Taloa Naki Women

Association Mrs. Leiwia Norman.

Samples from the training

P A G E 5 V O L U M E I S S U E S 1

N A T I O N A L T R A D E D E V E L O P M E N T C O M M I T T E E – C O M D E C I S I O N 5 / 2 0 1 4

“ U P D A T E A N D W A Y F O R W A R D O N E F F O R T S T O P R O M O T E V A L U E

A D D I T I O N ”

The Vanuatu Trade Policy Framework, the umbrella policy of the Ministry of Tourism, Trade, Commerce, and Ni-Vanuatu Busi-ness (MTTCNVB), recommends pursuing performance-based import substitution in respect to truly infant industries. These are defined as “high growth and export potential activities with strong linkages to the primary sector and where process of value addition is still at an initial stage, or has still to be fully explored”.

The four pillars of the Vanuatu National Policy further clarify the desired outcomes of performance-based import substitution. Chiko Farm Products Ltd (CFPL) is the only poultry company in Vanuatu and is supplying 17% of the domestic market which fits well the definition of a truly infant industry given its initial stages of development, linkages to primary sector and its growth and export potential-directly or indirectly through supply of chickens to the tourism industry.

MTTCNVB and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Bio-security (MALFFB) to jointly establish a Poultry Indus-try Steering Committee (PISC) to coordinate, monitor and report on implementation of the import substitution policy, including CFPL’s commitment with regards to investment. It will be chaired by the Department of Industry and its initial membership in-cludes Department of Livestock, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of bio-security and corpo-rate services unit of MTICTNVB and MALFFB and CFPL.

CFPL has update on investments which includes the improvement s to the abattoir in order to meet bio-security requirements, new incubators, feed mill and delivery of trucks and tractors. It also applied for the import duty exemption under X66 Provision (Government Projects), Schedule III of the Import Duties Act (incubators, feed mill equipment and abattoir equipment).

Four contract growers have been identified with a possible total production capacity of 16,000 birds per month. Other farmers are indicating interest. A draft broiler and crops contract growing operations requirement has been developed. A meeting has been organized by PISC Secretariat for the management of CFPL and ABM to start discussions on the pricing structure and a phase out plan on reducing imports and sourcing supply from CFPL. Members agreed that Dept. of External Trade and dept. of Customs and Inland Revenue will be invited as members in the next meeting and ABM as observer.

It was agreed that the duty rates for poultry will immediately be reduced to 2013 levels if CFPL does not comply with the com-mitments listed in Annexes 2, 3, 4 and 5 to this COM paper, noting that any change in the ownership structure or name will not exempt the company from complying with these commitments.

With that the NTDC congratulates the MTTCNVB and MALFFB for the recent developments to support the domestic poultry in-dustry and has agreed that the PISC Chair will report to the NTDC 3/2014 and that this report will include quantitative informa-tion of CFPL achievements against the targets specified in the COM paper leading to decision 5/2014 and recommends whether the new duty rates should be maintain for 2015.

D O I S T A F F C O N S U L T A T I O N O N M A R K E T I N G S T R A T E G I C P L A N S ( M S P )

D E P A R T M E N T O F I N D U S T R Y

P A G E 6

Acting Principal Manufacturing

and Marketing officer Mr. Wensie

presenting draft MSP.

The Department of Industry (DoI) staff held an evening of consultation on

the 18th of March 2014 based on the Draft Marketing Strategic Plans

(MSP), at the Trades and Industry conference room. The Acting Principal

Manufacturing and Marketing officer of the Industry Department, Mr. Wen-

sie Naki coordinated the consultation in order to obtain views, feedbacks

and recommendations on the overview of the MSP so that it can be re-

vised prior the national consultation which was set for the second quarter,

on the 11th of April. A well comprehensive discussion through out the con-

sultations which noted constructive ideas and recommendations were

highlighted by the Director of Industry, Mr. Rantes and so from the staff.

Mr. Wensie indicated that most of the MSP were derived from the National

Industry Policy (NIP).

According to the Marketing and Trade Promotion officer Mr. Lazarus Aising, the outcome of the

consultation shows that most of the emphasis came to an agreement with the draft MSP. The

minutes taken at the time requires minor adjustment to incorporate into the revised MSP for the

national validation workshop this April 2014.

I N T E R N A T I O N A L F I N A N C E C O R P O R A T I O N ( I F C ) W O R K S H O P

A fully locally owned business Oil of Paradise are now selling products which contain natural oils deprived from origi-

nally grown and processed nuts and fruits collected by the island communities of Vanuatu.

The Oils are either cold pressed or extracted by a natural settling process. Fragrances are added by infusion (lemon,

vanilla, cocoa, Frangipani).

The Various blended oils and soaps are base on the following

-Tamanu Oil

-Virgin Coconut Oil

-Nangai Oil

-Cocoa Butter

The Department of Industry through it's Marketing and Trade Promotion Division attended a half day consultation follow-

ing an invitation from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. The workshop

was attended by Mr. Donald Pelam, Senior Marketing and Trade Promotion officer and Mr. Lazarus Aising, Marketing

and Trade Promotion officer. This consultation was attended by the Presidents of Mama's Association in Vila, Tourism

Ambassador, Department of Tourism, NZAID, Intellectual Property Right office (IPO), Pandanus Consulting and Sanma

TVET Project.

It is the first time for the DoI, Marketing division to participate in this "handicraft focus group session for the Economic

Impact Study of the Cruise Ship Sector". IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, cruise ship company, Carnival Austra-

lia, and the DFAT-Australia Aid program have commissioned Australian firm, Net Balance, to carry out a robust inde-

pendent study of the economic impact of the cruise industry on Vanuatu. During the initial informal workshop designed

to give Net Balance; the stakeholders provided some inputs on the:

Information on current handicraft production in Vanuatu: main production, main challenges, key initiatives includ-

ing donor funded programs

Ideas to further develop the local handicraft production: opportunities, key issues and how to overcome them

Ideas to enhance the positive impacts of cruise tourism on Vanuatu in general

During the discussion, the Senior Marketing and Trade Promotion officer, Mr. Donald Pelam stressed the importance for

the local women's (Mama's) whom are selling their products at the Seafront, wharf, Centre Point Market House and Port

Vila Handy craft to sell ONLY LOCAL or Vanuatu made artifacts rather than Chinese products and other Pacific island

nations products. While coming up to certain standards of products, the department of Industry, Department of Tourism

and Tourism Ambassador which is managed by Mrs. Adela Aru to closely work together to address this which also in-

cludes conducting customer services and marketing/sales technique trainings. This will assist the Mama's with their

management of products.

While this is important, Mr. Pelam stress the importance for the Women selling their products to build bridges between

them and the producers that produces those anti-crafts to maintain the stability of consistency of their supply into the

market. Also we encourage them to have their own logo's but in particular, the Department of Industry is already work-

ing on a "Vanuatu made Logo" which will yet get views from its stakeholders to address that. Therefore, the Marketing

and Trade Promotion Division will include that in it's Action Plan to work with the Department of Tourism, AVL, Depart-

ment of Ports and Harbor and Tourism Ambassador office to carry out this vital activity.

V O L U M E I S S U E S 1 P A G E 7

Oil Of Paradise

The Department of Industry attended a meeting with the Sanma Community Economic Development (SCED) project coor-

dinator since January this year based on a World Vision (WV) project. Mr. Antfalo (Sanma IDO) who attended the meeting

reports on the agenda and outcomes.

The agenda’s discussed included:

Tamarind training specifically Solar drying– Product development “Tamarind Paste”

Scope mission to Malo– an island with potential processors

Marketing Information System (MIS) developments and updates

The outcome of the meeting results to a proposed idea to draft a MOU with WV, therefore:

Better implementations of programs / activities

Shared pool of resources

Synergies created beneficial for logistics and support

Information sharing plays vital role within the organization structure, while lack of accurate information disturbs the flow of

communications. Faced with these difficulties, a stakeholder meeting brings together the Secretary General of Sanma

Province, NGO’s, Government Departments and Provincial staff at Sanma province on mid February to address such issues.

The main purpose is to provide solutions to the issue of having lack of information or having outdated information, or how

best can the province collect reliable data from NGOs and Government Departments.

Outcome:

Province to provide a Reporting Format by sectors

For example; education, agriculture, tourism, health & sanitation

Province to draft MOUs’ between stakeholders to hold them liable to provide information

Quarterly meetings to present reports on data shared with the province.

S A N M A C O M M U N I T Y E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T ( S C E D )

I N F O R M A T I O N S H A R I N G

P A G E 8

D E P A R T M E N T O F I N D U S T R Y

S A U F A L I Y O U T H A S S O C I A T I O N ( S Y A ) S U C C E S S F U L L Y L A U N C H E S

It took seven long years for the youths of Avunamalai village,

from the interior of Malo Island to see the fruits of their labors.

Their strides have experience obstacles, challenges and suc-

cesses. Despite what seemed like an impossible goal they

managed to pull through. The motivation behind these youths

through some young dedicated leaders who possessed the

vision and capabilities to capitalize and utilized what they al-

ready had rather than investing on what they wish to have.

Coconut is abundantly grown and its availability drove this

initiative to locally process a virgin coconut oil (VCO) product,

28th March 2014 marked the launching of the Saufali Virgin

Coconut Oil.

Honorable Councilor Tulagi Rasu for Malo & Aore constituency

officially launched the product, with the presence of West

Malo Aore Council Secretary Remy Pakoro among other in-

vited guests - Avunamalai Paramount chief, community and

church leaders, and business associates of Michael Siba

whom has provided the training and skills to locally manufac-

ture the VCO products.

It was a day to a new beginning with many challenges and successes

the Saufali youths will bear witness to.

Special acknowledgment goes to Henjo Matahuken and Zekarai

Matahu for making it possible for the Department of Industry to be part

of this journey which SYA has embarked upon to work together to de-

velop and promote local manufactured product in Sanma Province.

Products Summary (capacity)

Youths proudly post for a photo with their new Saufali

VCO products.

V O L U M E I S S U E S 1 P A G E 9

Table below shows list of the approved and not approved duty exemption applications for different manufactur-

ing sectors industries as of first quarter of 2014.

A total of 25 Manufacturing Industries applied for duty exemption during the 1st quarter of this year. All applications re-

ceived were approved; and all applications were renewal whilst only one application was new applicant. Employment

status identify 379 Ni-Vans employed, seven industries participated on export trading market whereas others trade do-

mestically.

D U T Y E X E M P T I O N A P P L I C A T I O N A P P R O V E D U N D E R

( X 1 ) P R O V I S I O N S

P A G E 1 0

F A C I L I T A T I O N O F C O C O A T R A I N E E ’ S

Vanuatu Cocoa industry is a growing industry in the country. In some island of Vanuatu, associations of farmers

were formed to manage the smallholders cocoa farmers from production to processing. Joseph Len Merib; a lead

cocoa farmer from Epi who has 4000 cocoa trees is successfully taking care of his farm but has to visit or train

other farmers as well on some techniques of farm management. He is also the chairman of the Epi Cocoa Farmers

Association on Epi. Similarly to Mambong Naki from Malekula island who is an agent of the ACTIV Association

who buys cocoa from the farmers on the island. Since Joseph and Mambong are going around and providing

some basic cocoa management skills to other cocoa planters, the Department of Industry has initiated and facili-

tated training under TVET Malampa’s funding at the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC).

The main objective of this training is to train these two lead cocoa farmers on farm management practices and

post-harvest handling to improve cocoa quality for chocolate markets to be accredited as qualified trainers in

Vanuatu in order to train other farmers. But first, a Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (LLN) test has to

be done. It is a simple English comprehension, reading and writing skills tests that all applicants to APTC have to

undertake. Upon completion of this test, the two farmers will proceed on with the four weeks full time TAE40110

Certificate IV Training & Assessment at the APTC.

T R A I N I N G O P P O R T U N I T Y F O R T W O C O C O A L E A D F A R M E R S

F A C I L I T A T I N G T A M A R I N D C H U T N E Y L O G I S T I C .

The Department of Industry through its Marketing and Trade Promotion is facilitating the procurement to purchase

tamarind bottle jars in Australia. The tamarind project which is under the Department of Industry is assisting the lo-

cal producers and farmers by providing them with skills and knowledge in value addition which is inline with its

policy. However after much assistance, the Department feels it’s proper to assist a local manufacturer company

called Lapita Café to come up to produce Vanuatu’s own Tamarind Chutney which also address the value chain

of the product. Apart from that, the Department of Industry will also facilitate a niche market of tamarind export

abroad in the near future. Following this development the Department is now organizing a lounging for this Tama-

rind product with two other local products within the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Commerce and Tourism. More de-

tails of this development will be highlighted on the next quarterly newsletter for the DoI.

D E P A R T M E N T O F I N D U S T R Y

Lapita Café Tamarind Chutney labeling.

S T A F F P R O F I L E C O N T A C T S / E M A I L S

Jimmy B Rantes

Director

23606/5449884/5565100/ VOIP: 4002

(jrantes@vanuatu.gov.vu)

Noel Kalo

Principal Industry Dev. officer

Primary Industries/ Extension Services

23606/5402256 /VOIP: 4017

(nkalo@vanuatu.gov.vu)

Wensie W Naki

Principal Manufacturing/Marketing

Officer

23606/5912687/ VOIP: 4016

(wwnaki@vanuatu.gov.vu)

Donald A Pelam

Senior Marketing + Trade Promotion

23606/7777993/5912539/VOIP: 3983

(dpelam@vanuatu.gov.vu)

Lazarus Aising

Marketing + Trade Promotion

23606/7712179/VOIP: 3995

(laising@vanuatu.gov.vu)

Reuben E Tafau

Industry Dev. Officer Penama

23606/5565107 /VOIP: 3989

(retafau@vanuatu.gov.vu)

Joe Iauko

Industry Dev. Officer Tafea

23606/7735336/VOIP:3992

(jiauko@vanuatu.gov.vu)

Keith Antfalo

Industry Dev. Officer Sanma

5672887/36712 /VOIP: 6720

(kantfalo@vanuatu.gov.vu)

Christine Kapalu

Industry Dev. Officer Shefa

23606/5482293/ VOIP: 4015

(ckapalu@vanuatu.gov.vu)

John Mael

Industry Dev. Officer Malampa (contract)

23606/5958647

(jmael@vanuatu.gov.vu)

Andrina Woi

Senior Finance + Administration officer

23606/5405883/VOIP: 4001

(awoi@vanuatu.gov.vu)

Andrew Baha

Driver + Messenger

23606/7753034/5372484/VOIP: 4001

(abaha@vanuatu.gov.vu)

P A G E 1 1

D E P A R T M E N T O F I N D U S T R Y

V O L U M E I S S U E S 1