Vanuatu receives new PMO building from China

China’s Ambassador to Vanuatu, Liu Quan has officially handed over the new building of the office of the prime minister to the Prime Minister Charlot Salwai.

Mr Salwai thanked the government and people of China for their contribution to the development of Vanuatu at the handover ceremony yesterday

He said the old building that used to house the Public Service Commission, State Law Office, Language Services Department and Government Remuneration Tribunal was built by the French Government during pre-independence days and was used by the French Administration until 1980.

"Over the years it had deteriorated to a stage where it was no longer safe as an office environment. It was therefore decided that the building be demolished to make way for this new building which has been generously funded by the Government of China. The old U-shape building however has not been demolished and will be preserved as a historic building which housed the first Prime Minister of Vanuatu straight after the country gained its independence from its colonial rulers."

"The complex consists of 15 large offices, 7 ordinary meeting rooms, a multi-functional meeting room, a ministerial conference room, a multi-functional hall and a VIP reception room. The project cost around VT 669, 600 000 with an additional Vanuatu government contribution of more than 30 million VT," he added.

According to PM Salwai, the handover yesterday is a sign of the strength of relations between China and Vanuatu.

A week ago, the new Chinese-Government funded Luganville Wharf was handed over to the Government of Vanuatu.

The wharf project is funded through a concessional loan.

PM Salwai said eight of the ten departments including Cabinet under the Office of the Prime Minister will be housed in the new building and two (2) in the old U shaped building.

“I am glad to announce that the once scattered departments under my portfolio will now all be housed in one compound. I will have easy access to my Directors plus their staff. This will save time and reduce cost currently being incurred through rental of properties around Town,” he said.

He added that the Government of Vanuatu acknowledges the Chinese Government’s continued contribution to the country’s development, implemented in the framework of economic and technical cooperation.

 

Photo by Government of Vanuatu