SUBSIDIES
REPLY TO THE
QUESTION POSED BY AUSTRALIA[1]
REGARDING
THE NEW AND FULL NOTIFICATION OF VANUATU[2]
The following communication, dated and
received on 5 November 2024, is being circulated at the request of the
delegation of Vanuatu.
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Question
1 VANUATU GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY 70/30 AND 60/40
PRODUCTIVE SECTOR SUBSIDY PROGRAMME
This
program, which we note was phased out in 2021, provided grants, including to
fishers, for approved tools and equipment to enhance and increase production
for food security, livelihood and value added purposes. Assessment was
made on the basis of approved criteria.
·_
Could Vanuatu please
clarify the eligibility criteria for the fisheries sector under this program.
Reply:
·_
The Eligible criteria on this
Subsidy Programmed for the fisheries sector particularly the deep‑bottom
fishery and the coastal pelagic fishery, have not been fully exploited to the
level of maximum sustainable limits since the demise of the Village Fisheries
Development Project and the Fisheries Extension Program in the early 90's.
The desire to increase fish production is there, but lack of access to
affordable financing from the banking facilities driven by the high risk placed
on investments in fisheries resulted in challenges in securing sufficient funds
to purchase fishing boats.
·_
The process of fishers to be
eligible for this programme are provided on a short summary below on these 6
steps:
Step 1: VPPA Registration
Register with
Vanuatu Primary Producers Authority (VPPA) at Ministry of Agriculture,
Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity (MALFFB).
Step 2: MALFFB Application
Complete boats/fishing
gears/machines specification forms at Fisheries Department.
Step 3: Approval
Collect MALFFB
subsidy letter of approval.
Step 4: Subsidy
Payment
Pay 30% and
40% to Government Cashier.
Step 5: Collect Gears/Equipment
Present approval
letter/receipt to Project Management Unit. Sign letter of agreement and collect
items at MALFFB.
Step 6: M & E
Monitoring and Evaluation per quarter.
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