Vanuatu-New Caledonia trade vessel start operations next month
March 17, 2026 10:06 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
The government, through the Ministry of Trades, Industry and Tourism, has announced that the new vessel to link trade between Vanuatu and New Caledonia will commence operations next month (April).
The ministry announced this development in a statement following high-level meetings in New Caledonia between Minister Samson Samsen and the leadership of the Compagnie Maritime des Îles (CMI), including its President Philippe Ettwiller and Director General Thomas Quiros.
The vessel, Karaka, will now start operations after more than a year of coordinated engagement between the Governments of Vanuatu and New Caledonia, together with CMI.
“This is a major milestone for Vanuatu,” the Minister said, noting that the new shipping route will strengthen economic ties and improve the movement of goods and services between the two countries.
Minister Samsen was accompanied by senior officials during the high-level visit to New Caledonia including First Political Advisor Marcellino Pipite and Director of Cabinet;Joe Ligo Wilson, Former Acting Director General of the Ministry of Trade Noel Kalo, Director of Industry Lazarus Aising, Manager of Industry Jack Lowanie, Coordinator CSU Atanas Pipite, Chief Executive Officer of the Vanuatu Bureau of Standards and Director of Customs Harold Tarosa.
Vanuatu’s Consul General Serge Alain Mahe, and the Trade Attaché in New Caledonia, Pierre-Henri Macabies were also part of the delegation.
Karaka will play a key role in supporting exports of major commodities such as kava, cocoa and copra, while also enabling the import of goods, machinery and services needed for Vanuatu’s ongoing reconstruction and economic development, according to the ministry.
Officials said the new maritime link will also open opportunities for increased investment, improved logistics, and the expansion of value-added production, positioning Vanuatu as a stronger trading partner in the Pacific.
The Government views the initiative as part of a broader strategy to build economic corridors and strengthen regional integration, with New Caledonia identified as a key market for Vanuatu products.
With the launch of the Karaka, both countries are moving beyond discussions to concrete implementation, setting the stage for increased trade flows, stronger partnerships, and long-term economic growth.
