Vanuatu, New Caledonia Ink Cooperation Package
(Oceania Flash)
The governments of New Caledonia and Vanuatu have last week formalised a package of some US$440,000 aimed at funding this year's cooperation between the French Pacific territory and its closest neighbour reports Oceania Flash.
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The regional cooperation package between Port Vila and Nouméa, which was formalised last week at a special Vanuatu-New Caledonia ministerial joint meeting in Nouméa, includes support for the French language (Vanuatu being the only Pacific independent State to recognize French as one of its official languages), a boost in trade exchanges and support to the local police force.
This year, the financial package is twice as much as that for 2006, with about half of it coming from the French government's economic, social and cultural cooperation fund, commonly known as the "Pacific Fund".
One of the main objectives was to further integrate New Caledonia in its Pacific environment.
In June last year, the base for such agreement was signed in Paris between Vanuatu Prime minister Ham Lini and New Caledonia's President Marie-Noëlle Thémereau.
Areas covered by the aid packed include support for the French language, science and research, education, health, youth and sport and a small project to support the Vanuatu police force.
One of the new areas with a significant focus is also the promotion of good governance.
Under the deal, trade advisers from both Vanuatu and New Caledonia's Chambers of Commerce are to be exchanged, so as to boost trade volumes between the French Pacific territory and the Pacific island State.
