A local businessman in Port Vila is asking the government to make it easier for people to start a business in Vanuatu. He says the process takes too long and makes it hard for new businesses to grow.

Adam Lopez, who owns Haos blong Wok, said many people give up because they face too many delays. “It’s very hard to do business in Vanuatu. Offices are slow, people don’t show up to work, and foreign investors get tired of waiting and leave,” Mr. Lopez told VBTC News.

He said that if the government makes the process easier, more businesses will open, and more jobs will be created for local people. He also added that a strong business sector helps grow the country’s economy.

The government’s Public Relations Officer said the concern is not new and that the government is working on it. A plan is already in place to review and improve the process as part of the government’s 100-day plan, which includes the “New Investor Initiative.”

In 2022, the Vanuatu Statistics Office recorded 16,794 businesses across the country. But that number may have dropped because of natural disasters like cyclones and earthquakes that forced many businesses to close.

Mr. Lopez has also built new space in Port Vila that can fit 30 different businesses. He hopes more people will open different types of businesses in the country.

A Labour Force Survey will take place upcoming months. It will collect information about jobs, unemployment, and the current work situation in Vanuatu.