Completed Development AidData Chinese Aid

Chinese Government provides RMB 40 million grant for Fish Processing Facilities Project (Linked to Record ID#63854 and #73689)

¥40M RMB

Funder	China Ministry of Commerce
Recipient Organization	Government of Vanuatu
Country	Vanuatu
Start Date	Jan 01, 2007
End Date	Feb 08, 2026
Duration	6,978 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Recipient
Data Source	AidData Chinese Aid
Grant ID	`39294`

Grant Description

In 2007, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) provided an RMB 40 million ($4.6 million) grant to the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu for the Fish Processing Facilities Project.

The purpose of this project was to construct a 2705.44 square meter fish processing facility in Black Sands village on the western outskirts of Port Vila.

The facility was to include a 2084 square meter fish processing and cold storage plant, a 430.4 square meter office building, an 800kva transformer and distribution center, a back-up generator, a 40.43 square meeter generator room, a sewage treatment station, and a 142.29 square meter ice making and ice storage room.

Upon completion, the facility was expected to process 15,000 tons of fish products every year.

The ultimate objective of the project was to create jobs and increase the production and sale of fish and fish products (as fish caught in Vanuatu's EEZ were previously being processed in Fiji).

Jiangsu Provincial Construction Group Co., Ltd. (JPC) was responsible for project implementation and Shenyang Engineering Supervision Consulting Co., Ltd. was responsible for project supervision. Construction began on December 5, 2007 and ended on June 6, 2009. A formal project handover ceremony took place on September 10, 2009.

However, the plant did not become operational for many years because of various delays and controversies, including land disputes and complaints about potential pollution. For several years, the facility was inactive because of an incomplete Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). Then, the facility did not pass a Seafood Verification Audit in August 2016.

Vanuatu’s Ministry of Agriculture also reported that the facility did not meet the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HAACP) food safety standards.

📋 Staff Comments

In 2004, CNFC Overseas Fishery Company Ltd and Vanuatu Government signed the first Fisheries Co-operation Framework, which paved way for the creation of a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA). Then on October 25, 2005, the then Prime Minister of Vanuatu signed the initial JFA on behalf of the Vanuatu Government with the CNFC. The joint venture that was established was to assume responsibility for the management of the fish processing facility. Then, in 2006, the Government of Vanuatu signed a supplementary agreement with CNFC for the use of the Fisheries Department wharf development. However, wharf development did not proceed because shallow waters at Seafront and South of Iririki Island prevented large vessels coming in. A joint venture company called Sino-Van Fisheries Limited (see Project ID#73689) was established in July 2008. Former Director General, Jeffrey Wilfred signed the JVA on behalf of Vanuatu’s Minister of Agriculture and the Government. Then, in 2017, the Government of Vanuatu decided to relocate the facility from Black Sands to Forari. Sino-Van Fisheries Limited (Sino-Van) ultimately commenced operations on October 25, 2019 after relocating the facility was relocated.This project is linked to Project ID#63854, which provided cash assistance for municipal power supply to support the facility.This project is also known as the Tuna Processing Facilities Project, Fish Processing Project, the Blacksands Project, the Black Sands Project, the Vanuatu Aquatic Product Processing Plant Project, and the Sino-Van Fisheries Limited (Sino-Van) Project. The Chinese project title is 水产品加工厂项目 or 援瓦努阿图水产品加工厂项目.

📚 Sources & References

ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2010
VANUATU SEEKS CHINA HELP WITH PORT VILA HARBOR
China gifts new fish processing plant to Vanuatu
From China with love, 2017 INCORPORATING THE ECONOMIC AND FISCAL UPDATE AND THE BUDGET POLICY STATEMENT
我援瓦水产品加工厂交接及中瓦渔业有限公司挂牌仪式隆重举行
程树平大使陪同瓦努阿图农业部长视察我援瓦水产品加工厂项目
驻瓦努阿图大使谢波华陪同瓦农业部长视察中瓦水产品加工厂, 2009 ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT REPORT
我援瓦努阿图水产品加工厂项目正式移交瓦政府
Annual Development Report 2010
瓦政府高级官员参观并称赞我援建的水产品加工项目
Vanuatu could have fish plant with Bumble Bee
驻瓦努阿图大使谢波华陪同瓦总理基尔曼视察中瓦渔业有限公司, 2009 ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Vanuatu : 2013 Article IV Consultation
China provides money to re-start Vanuatu tuna processor
The Dragon Looks South
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
SINO-VAN FISHERIES LTD
Ambassador Zhou Haicheng's Speech at 2020 Chinese New Year Reception
VANUATU TO EXPORT 1.5 TONS OF TUNA WEEKLY
VANUATU GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH NEW INDUSTRIAL ZONE
援瓦努阿图水产品加工厂项目施工技术资料完成移交
援瓦努阿图水产品加工厂项目
我援瓦努阿图水产品加工厂项目正式移交瓦政府
商务部对外援助项目招标委员会通告2007年第5号
Vanuatu Aquatic Product Processing Plant Project
CHINA TO FUND $4.5 MILLION VANUATU FISH PLANT
Chinese Aid in the Pacific Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.