Vanuatu government agency expects Chinese campaign to boost economy

The head of Vanuatu’s Investment Promotion Authority says the government is yet to reap the benefits of its campaign to attract wealthy Chinese.

Smith Tebu says any tourist is a potential investor and the ’Who wants to be a millionaire’ game show based advertisments screening in Hong Kong, are part of raising the profile of Vanuatu.

He says language barriers and cultural acceptance by ni-Vanuatu of an increase in Chinese visitors and business people are challenges to be overcome.

But he says the programme that is now underway in Hong Kong, enables people to enquire further about Vanuatu and the government is looking forward to the positive economic impact.

“It is made particularly in Hong Kong to entice people who have a lot of money or millionaires, people with money to you know transit from mainland China across to Hong Kong and do business.”