New Zealand foreign affairs minister, Murray McCully, has revealed more details about his government's support for a project aiming to improve shipping services and port facilities in Vanuatu.
The Vanuatu Inter-Island Shipping Support Project is a joint initiative between New Zealand, the Asian Development Bank the government of Vanuatu.
The project will cost a total of 27 million US dollars, with New Zealand contributing half that amount.
It will build or rebuild up to eight wharves and jetties across Vanuatu, establish a pilot programme to support shipping services to remote areas, and update Vanuatu's maritime safety legislation and regulations.
It will also include the construction of a new inter-island terminal in Port Vila to accommodate the growing volume of vessels and increasing tourist numbers.
Mr McCully is currently leading the 2013 Pacific Mission to Papua New Guinea, the PNG Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
