𝗩𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝘁𝘂 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗭𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗢𝗠 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗼. 𝟱𝟭 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

The Government of Vanuatu has achieved a historic milestone with the first formal export of locally grown taro to New Zealand, marking a major breakthrough in its national policy for certified agricultural exports.

This initiative is being implemented through the Vanuatu Bureau of Standards (VBS) and the Vanuatu Cooperative Business Network (VCBN), under the mandate of Council of Ministers (COM) Decision No. 51 of 2025.

The program is part of the Government’s 100-Day Implementation Plan and is led under the policy direction of:

Prime Minister Hon. Jotham Napat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Hon. Johnny Koanapo, Minister of Trade and Commerce, Hon. Samson Samsen and Minister MALF, Hon. Yen Wilson

𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙑𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚

On Saturday, 20 July 2025, Minister Samson Samsen, who also serves as Acting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, visited Sara Village, East Santo, to inspect the taro fields and reassure local farmers of the Government’s commitment to long-term export development.

“This visit today confirms that what is happening here is not a small project,” said Hon. Samson Samsen. “This is a formal and government-backed export program. The taro grown here will be certified and exported to supermarkets in New Zealand—not just for one-off sales, but as part of a structured, ongoing trade pipeline.” “Farmers like you will now have access to real markets and receive higher value for your produce. This is just the start of a long-term export plan that will reach every corner of the country.”

𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙋𝘼 𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙨 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧

On Monday, 21 July 2025, the Minister’s First Political Adviser, Mr. Marcellino Pipite, officially led the handover of VT 2 million to Mr. James Timothy, the local farmer whose taro was selected for the first export.

“This is no longer just a market sale—it is a certified export,” said Mr. Pipite. “Your taro will enter supermarkets overseas and be purchased by people from many different communities. This is just the beginning of a national movement to make every farmer an exporter.”

𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙨

The taro was processed at the national packhouse in Port Vila, under certification from the Vanuatu Bureau of Standards, before being exported to New Zealand. “We are now expanding to Maewo and other islands,” said VCBN Chairman Mr. James Silas. “Our mission is to ensure every farmer in Vanuatu becomes part of this certified export chain.” Future certified exports under this program will include ginger, manioc, and yam, all in compliance with international standards.

𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙮 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮

This milestone confirms early delivery under the Government’s 100-Day Plan and advances Vanuatu’s strategic goals to:

• Empower rural producers
• Create value-added, traceable exports
• Strengthen Vanuatu’s brand in international markets
• Essence of the Policy

This export initiative is part of a carefully calculated national policy developed in direct response to over a decade of persistent trade deficits. It represents a bold strategy of capitalization and speed—targeting the 80% of the population engaged in agriculture and primary production, which is Vanuatu’s comparative advantage. At the same time, the policy is designed to accelerate export output to narrow the trade gap rapidly and sustainably.

Through this dual focus—empowering the majority while closing the deficit—the Government is laying the foundation for long-term economic resilience and regional competitiveness.