Vanuatu
Diplomatic relations with Vanuatu were established in 1986. Till mid-2000, the Indian High Commission in Canberra was accredited to Vanuatu. The accreditation was transferred to HCI, Port Moresby in August 2000 and to HCI Suva in June 2014. Since February 2022, High Commission of India in Wellington is accredited to Vanuatu.
Capacity Building & Other Exchanges
- India has been offering 5 training slots under the ITEC Programme until 2018-2019.
- In the year 2018-19, Vanuatu utilized only 1 slot.
- Since 2019-20, Vanuatu has been offered 01 ITEC slot which has remained unutilized due to Covid-19.
- ICCR in 2022-23, allocated 4 scholarship slots & in 2023-24, allocated 2 slots under Atal Bihari Vajpayee General Scholarship Scheme to pursue higher studies in India.
- Kemson Tavdey, Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vanuatu participated in the 63rd Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) held at Foreign Service Institute, New Delhi from 29 March to 28 April 2017.
- Sagar Amrut Scholarships” scheme for the PIC countries was announced during FIPIC-III summit held in May 2023. Under the scheme India is offering a total of 200 fully funded scholarship slots each year to participants from PIC countries.
Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)
- Two Category 4 cyclones (TC Judy and TC Kevin) hit Vanuatu — one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries — within 72 hours in early March 2023. (HADR assistance to Vanuatu’s recovery efforts is under process)
- As part of Government of India's Regional Assistance Initiatives for Pacific Island countries, India offers annual grant-in-aid for development projects in Vanuatu.
- Following “Cyclone Pam” in March 2015, India gave a grant of US$ 250,000 as a humanitarian assistance.
- India gave a grant of US$ 200,000 for resettlement process of Ambae islands after eruption of volcano in June 2018.
- Government of India has increased Grant-in-Aid to Vanuatu to US$ 200,000 annually to be rolled over to provide a wider scope for our development cooperation.
- India had given US$ 669,093 to Vanuatu since 2006 for various community development projects like procurement of equipment for school/office equipment/ICT equipment, etc.
- US$ 200,000 assistance for LED bulbs and energy efficient equipment has been delivered on 31 January 2018.
- Assistance of US$ 250,000 in 2015 post Tropical Cyclone Pam
- US$ 200,000 in July 2018 for resettlement of Ambae islands residents after volcanic eruptions.
- In June 2020, the project to improve resilience in the Pacific Island Countries (including Vanuatu) was signed between United Nations Resident Coordinator and Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) to be largely funded by India. Under the scheme Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems will be installed on buildings of national significance. (Total funding: US $ 1 Million).
- India will be doing solar electrification of 200 houses in Vanuatu.
- Refresher training for 43 ‘Solar Mamas’ from seven Pacific Island Countries was completed successfully in Fiji on 10 September 2016, as a part of US$ 1.5 million.
- Four Vanuatu solar mamas had been trained in India at Barefoot College, Rajasthan since 2012.
- Vanuatu has signed and ratified the Framework Agreement of International Solar Alliance (ISA) and become the founding member of ISA.
