Ministry of Trade & Commerce - VANUATU OPENS ORGANIC EXPORT CORRIDOR TO AUSTRALIA — Fresh Produce and Vanuatu-Made Goods to Enter Premium Market

Melbourne, Australia — 25 November 2025.
Vanuatu has opened a major new chapter in its trade and export development with the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Ministry of Trade and Commerce, through the Vanuatu Bureau of Standards (VBS), and MarketPlace Fresh, one of Australia’s largest distributors of premium produce.

The agreement establishes the first structured, standards-driven pathway for Vanuatu to supply the Australian market with premium organic fresh produce as well as Vanuatu-Made value-added products, positioning Vanuatu as a regional leader in natural, high-quality island goods.

Minister of Trade Hon. Samson Samsen described the agreement as a “breakthrough that elevates Vanuatu’s clean, organic agricultural identity and strengthens our emergence as a supplier of high-quality Vanuatu-Made products to the region.”

Australia remains Vanuatu’s largest trade partner, accounting for nearly 30% of Vanuatu’s imports, with two-way trade reaching USD 543.1 million in 2024. Increasing Vanuatu’s export presence in Australia is now a key component of the Government’s strategy to rebalance this long-standing trade dynamic.

What the Agreement Delivers

The MOA creates a structured supply chain for:

1. Organic Fresh Produce

Including volcanic-soil taro, premium root crops, seasonal fruits, island vegetables, and naturally grown produce meeting strict Australian biosecurity and hygiene standards.

2. Vanuatu-Made Value-Added Products

A dedicated commercial channel for certified Vanuatu-Made food products, processed goods, and other value-added items destined for premium retail and wholesale markets in Australia.

Key provisions include:

MarketPlace Fresh appointed as exclusive importer and distributor;
Integration with Vanuatu’s national packhouse certification system;
Technical support for grading, packaging, quality control, and traceability;
A Joint Steering Committee responsible for oversight and quarterly evaluations;
A renewable three-year operational framework to grow volumes progressively.

Signing Ceremony in Melbourne

The Agreement was signed on behalf of Vanuatu by:

Joe Ligo, Director General, Ministry of Trade & Commerce
Atanas Pipite, CEO, Vanuatu Bureau of Standards (VBS)

For MarketPlace Fresh:

Stephen Fanous, Group Managing Director
Silas Ling, CEO, World Best Trading (WBT)

The MOA was officially witnessed by Hon. Samson Samsen, Minister of Trade & Commerce.

Representing the Government of Australia were:

Dr. Justin Lee, First Assistant Secretary, Pacific Melanesia Division (DFAT)
Louise Foster, Assistant Director, Vanuatu Section, Fiji & Vanuatu Branch (DFAT)

Vanuatu Delegation

The signing was further witnessed by members of the Vanuatu delegation, including:
Marcellino Pipite (First PA), Noel Kalo (Director of Industry), Albert William (Private Sector Representative), Gaspard Palaud (Chairman, Vanuatu Bureau of Standards), Mr. Ernest Sumptoh, Acting High Commissioner of Vanuatu in Canberra and Mr. Donald Pelam, Vanuatu Consul General in Sydney.

Their diplomatic coordination was instrumental in ensuring the smooth facilitation of this historic engagement.

In addition:

Hon. John Malnimwem, Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign & Economic Policy, attended in his mandated role to scrutinize major government projects, assess policy implications, and ensure the effective implementation and national alignment of high-level initiatives such as this export agreement.
Hon. Fred Samuel, Member of Parliament, participated in his strategic capacity as the national political champion of the taskforce responsible for overseeing market development, inter-agency coordination, and ensuring the project’s execution at the highest strategic and political levels.

Policy Direction and Strategic Evolution

The Ministry emphasized that this agreement is part of a broader export transformation strategy aimed at branding Vanuatu as a reliable supplier of fresh, organic produce and high-quality Vanuatu-Made goods.

Earlier this year, Vanuatu successfully entered the New Zealand formal commercial market with its first regulated export consignments. These shipments met strict international standards for packaging, cold-chain management, organic integrity, and product traceability—proving Vanuatu’s capacity to operate at global levels.

Building on that momentum, the Government strengthened packhouse operations, national logistics, certification systems, and farmer coordination. These advances now enable Vanuatu to scale confidently into larger markets, beginning with Australia.

Export Rollout Timeline and National Standards Policy

The first export consignments under this agreement are expected to commence as early as February 2026, following the commissioning of the Santo Packhouse, which has been upgraded to international processing and safety standards. The facility was constructed using Dincel’s internationally certified structural systems, ensuring global compliance with food-handling, hygiene, and biosecurity requirements.

This development aligns with the Government’s national policy to centralize standards as the key driver of export growth, supporting Vanuatu’s efforts to reduce Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and strengthen its position in premium international markets.

Under this strategic direction:

Export volumes will expand through a high-standard, certified supply chain;
Organic and Vanuatu-Made value-added products will diversify national income streams;
Hotels, resorts, supermarkets, and tourism operators within Vanuatu will also receive export-grade products, elevating domestic food quality and reliability.

This dual strategy ensures that both international markets and the local economy benefit from improved standards, resilience, and value addition.

Rebalancing the Trade Relationship

Given Australia’s dominant share of Vanuatu’s imports—fuel, machinery, building materials, consumer goods—the Government aims to rebalance the relationship by increasing exports of organic and Vanuatu-Made goods with higher market value.

This agreement represents a significant step toward positioning Vanuatu as a competitive regional supplier of natural, sustainable, and value-added island products.

Acknowledgements

The Ministry of Trade and Commerce extends its gratitude to:

The Australian High Commission in Port Vila;
The Vanuatu High Commission in Canberra, led by Mr. Ernest Sumptoh;
The Vanuatu Consulate General in Sydney, led by Mr. Donald Pelam;
Past government officials and technical teams;
Mr. Jason Thomas, for establishing early linkages with MarketPlace Fresh;
All Vanuatu farmers, producer groups, private-sector partners, VBS officers, and national stakeholders.

Their combined efforts made this historic achievement possible.

This agreement positions Vanuatu as a regional leader in premium organic produce and Vanuatu-Made goods — bringing the purity of our islands to Australian consumers.