News

Since 2015, PSDI has been assisting the Government of Vanuatu to develop a new competition and consumer policy.

In August and September, consultations were held to discuss the PSDI-drafted Public Issues Paper on Competition Policy and Law for Vanuatu.

In October, the draft National Competition Policy was presented by PSDI at a public workshop hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Trade, Commerce and Ni-Vanuatu Business. The draft policy aims to chart a course for better consumer protection, liberalization of markets, and safeguards for the competitive process in Vanuatu.

Following the workshop, the Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Trade, Commerce and Ni-Vanuatu Business, Marokon Alilee, stressed the importance of the policy.

“With this policy, the Government is looking to recognize the importance of competition and establish the high-level principles to guide the promotion of competition. The policy builds on the direction provided in Vanuatu’s development strategy, the Priorities Action Agenda, which highlighted the lack of competition in several key markets as a serious impediment to development.”

The public consultation period on the draft policy is now closed and the feedback received has since been incorporated in policy proposals for consideration by the Government.