The EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica has today announced an additional EU contribution of 10.5 million Euros to support Vanuatu's post cyclone recovery process in the rural and agricultural sector.
In a press conference in Port Vila this morning after holding bilateral meetings with Vanuatu ministers and New Zealand’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Murray McCully, Mr Mimica said the additional funds will be injected in the form of budget support. He said the money was decided on by the EU just last week.
The European Union provided humanitarian assistance immediately after Cyclone Pam of an amount of 1 million Euros (VT125 million). The EU made a disbursement to the Vanuatu treasury of the first trench of its pilot support operation only few days before the cyclone struck. This provided timely liquidity for development’s first response.
In his opening remarks, Mr Mimica said he was very impressed with the resilience of the people of Vanuatu after what he had now witnessed just after a year from the monster category 5 cyclone struck Vanuatu.
He said the government has made great efforts in managing the emergency response in their assessment of damage and loses as well as preparations of the recovery.
“While recovery is well underway, a huge task is still ahead of us and that is to ensure that sufficient funds would be mobilize and used for this recovery phase” he said.
“Since this budget support is provided directly to Vanuatu’s treasury, the government now has the flexibility to use that where they are most needed,” said the EU Commissioner.
The announcement came shortly after bilateral talks between the EU, the New Zealand government and the Vanuatu government.
Prime Minister Charlot Salwai thanked both the EU and the New Zealand government for recognizing Vanuatu’s priority needs and their valued contribution to strengthen and develop those areas.
He said at the bilateral talks on agriculture some five key areas were discussed and they include the boosting of production and marketing of our agricultural produce.
Other sectors on the table were renewable energy, tourism and education.
The visit to Vanuatu by the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, is the first for a most senior member of the EU.