Trade and investment play a vital role in Vanuatu’s economic development, supporting employment, infrastructure growth, and integration into regional and global markets. Vanuatu’s economy is largely driven by agriculture, fisheries, tourism, construction, and services, with trade focused mainly on a small range of primary commodities and imports of essential goods.
Vanuatu’s exports primarily include kava, copra and coconut products, beef, cocoa, fish, and timber, with key trading partners in the Pacific region, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe. Imports consist mainly of fuel, food products, machinery, manufactured goods, vehicles, and construction materials, reflecting the country’s limited domestic manufacturing base.
Foreign investment is an important contributor to economic growth, particularly in tourism, real estate, agriculture, renewable energy, telecommunications, and infrastructure development. Australia, New Zealand, China, and other regional partners are among the main sources of foreign direct investment (FDI). The Government of Vanuatu actively promotes investment through policy reforms, investment incentives, and the facilitation role of Investment Promotion Authorities.
Vanuatu is a member of key regional and international trade frameworks, including the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER Plus), the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Trade Agreement, and the World Trade Organization (WTO), which support market access, trade facilitation, and regulatory reform.
Overall, trade and investment remain central to Vanuatu’s development strategy, with ongoing efforts focused on diversifying exports, improving the business environment, strengthening private sector participation, and building resilience to external economic and climate-related shocks.