Chinese Government provides VUT 3 billion grant for Vanuatu Presidential Palace, MFEM Office Buildings, and MFAICET Office Building Extension Project

Project narrative

On August 30, 2017, the Chinese Ambassador, Liu Quan, and Vanuatu's Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai, signed a grant for VUT 3 billion. The Government of Vanuatu allocated this grant to the Vanuatu Presidential Palace, Office Buildings for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) and Extension of the Office Building for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade (MFAICET) Project. The project scope involved three components: a new Ministry of Finance to replace the old building badly damaged by cyclone Pam in 2015; an extension to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office building; and a new residency for the President of Vanuatu in the John Court area. The project covered a total area of approximately 6,849 square meters. Construction activities included office buildings, auxiliary facilities, walls, roads, landscaping, greening and other outdoor ancillary activities. China Gezhouba Group Co., Ltd (CGGC) was the EPC contractor responsible for project implementation. On March 29, 2018, Liu Quan and Charlot Salwai signed documents to begin construction on the project. Then, on February 4, 2022, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the project. Following the groundbreaking ceremony, CGGC was expected to take 26 months to complete the construction of the three buildings. The handover ceremony for all three buildings took place on July 1, 2024.