ADB expands presence in Vanuatu

PORT VILA,29 AUGUST 2018 (ADB) – Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice-President Stephen Groff joined the Prime Minister of Vanuatu Charlot Salwai in inaugurating ADB’s extended mission in Vanuatu. “ADB’s financing has helped Vanuatu achieve some real development results,” said Salwai. “The ADB Extended Mission will allow us to collectively better respond to the development needs of the people of Vanuatu.” In establishing the extended presence in Vanuatu, ADB is reaffirming their commitment to and deepening relationship with the country. It will better enable ADB to provide more effective support and responsiveness on the ground and maintain regular and close dia- logue with the Government of Vanuatu, civil society, project beneficiaries, and other development partners. ADB’s extended mission for Vanuatu assists the government in implementing its development strategy, the National Sustainable Development Plan 2016–2030, while facilitating activities outlined in ADB’s Pacific Approach 2016–2020, which serves as the overall country partnership strategy for the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The extended mission is led by Arto Ahonen. He is assisted by Senior country coordination officer Nancy Wells and other support staff. “In the past 37 years, ADB has provided Vanuatu with US$202.42 million to help the country achieve its development goals,” said Groff. “In the next two years, ADB is expected to scale up total financing for Vanuatu for a further US$88.50 million.”ADB began working with the Government of Vanuatu in 1981. ADB has since approved 16 loans totaling US$95.96 million, 14 grants worth US$83.41 million in total, and 69 technical assistance projects worth US$23.05 million.