Chinese Government provides $2.7. million grant for Oil Palm Technical Cooperation Project

On 5 April 2006, the governments of China and Vanuatu signed the agreement “Assisting of cooperation of Vanuatu palm technology project." During the same year, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) provided a $2.7 million grant to the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu for the Oil Palm Technical Cooperation Project. The purpose of this project was to provide oil palm seeds, cultivate oil palm seedlings on a 5,000 hectare plantation in South Santo, and train government officials and farmers. The ultimate objective was to develop oil palm industry in Vanuatu. China Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences was the contractor responsible for implementation. The project commenced in January 2007 and it was officially completed and handed over to the local authorities in June 2009. The Government of the Republic of Vanuatu and the Chinese Government also established a joint venture called Vanuatu Palm Oil Ltd., (VPO) to further development the country’s fledgling oil palm industry.

Additional details

This project is also known as the Oil Palm Project, the Palm Oil Project, the Palm Technology Project, and the Palm Oil Technical Cooperation Project. The Chinese project title is 瓦努阿图棕榈树种植技术合作项目.

Number of official sources

12

Number of total sources

15