The present strategy is aimed at supporting Vanuatu’s efforts to address e-commerce challenges identified in the last two years and leverage additional resources from the Government and development partners to accelerate e-commerce adoption, increase digital readiness and, in fine, support Vanuatu’s economic transformation. Vanuatu has yet to take advantage of the potential of e-commerce. The country could benefit substantially from e-commerce if it is able to accelerate the adoption of key measures aimed at supporting the development of an e-commerce ecosystem (e.g., digital economy strategy, enhanced regulatory framework) and private sector investments (in skills and access to finance). Among other benefits, e-commerce can fuel development of the tourism and professional services sectors, attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and increase employment in Vanuatu, thus limiting the structural brain drain.
The Vanuatu E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap is poised to become a game-changing force, as e-readiness of Ni-Vanuatu consumers and businesses increased dramatically during the COVID19 pandemic. The Strategy predominantly focuses on the Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B) models. It is aligned with the Pacific Regional E-commerce Strategy (2021-2025) adopted during the Forum Trade Ministers Meeting in September 2021. It is also aligned with the National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) for the period 2016 to 2030 (also known as Vanuatu 2030 The Peoples Plan) and the National Information and Communication (ICT) Policy. Given its comprehensive approach to digital trade, many of the strategy’s measures will require interaction with and leadership by ministries and agencies whose core mandate is not necessarily focussing on trade matters as well as with the private sector and its representative organizations.