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The WTO has member countries. Decisions are made at Ministerial Conferences, via the secretariat in Geneva. The secretariat has limited power, their main role is to coordinate negotiations between countries, analyze world trade and give technical support to developing countries considering membership. Decisions at the WTO are made by consensus, meaning that all members must agree. Consensus based governing can be cumbersome; this is why WTO talks are so slow to come to a decision.
Each county has the same formal influence regardless of its size and pays the same membership fees, except LDCs Least Developed Countries , like Vanuatu. There are different reasons countries decide to join with the WTO, but the biggest reason is the lowering of import taxes and other obstacles, which increase the overall volume of trade, raising the average wealth.
Globally, the potential gains from cutting tariffs and lowering trade barriers are great. But for smaller, less developed countries like Vanuatu there is not much to gain, even if there is an improvement in overall global prosperity. Global trade rules are supposed to stop arbitrary changes in trade policy, thus making trade fairer for smaller LDCs, who cannot retaliate through trade wars.
The laws are there to help balance the scales, so that the bigger and stronger economies do not dominate global trade any more than they already do. Tragically, smaller countries have little choice than to join the WTO, since most regional trade agreements must be WTO compliant, meaning that countries must accept WTO rules even if they are not members. They might as well have a voice, rather than having the rules being dictated to them by other nations. The best way to get me is through my website US Tax Aid. We love Skype and so it becomes a great way to communicate with our clients.
You found your piece of paradise in the world I believe. Is it Baha where you are at the moment? This show is called Lifestyles and Real Estate of the South Pacific and we have this sort of great opportunity in Vanuatu because it is first of all a tax friendly country. I want to go down the two roads.
You guys can guess where I am going. First of all — can I use my self-directed IRA? The answer is yes. And then I absolutely underscore it. Other than that, absolutely you can invest in foreign assets. Richard talks a lot about Vanuatu. Australian real estate has gone through the roof.
I mean personally I would look for somebody who is an investor themselves and understands not just the market but understand the numbers that have to go into a good deal. And the openings are there. I originally come from New Zealand. We have a lot of New Zealanders living here in Sydney. And if you had a bought a house in Sydney 2 years ago you would have made a quarter of a million Australian dollars on your house. Just in the last 24 months. I used to think there would be an end. And Chinese investment money in Australia is absolutely booming down here as well.
When you really think about it. So creating that diversification I think is great investment advice. A lot of Russians are looking at coming into the South Pacific. We have to talk about his personal quest of moving down to Vanuatu and having good advice. I visited 7 different 5-star hotels there and one of them was in a high-tech park. And the Hyatt Hotel rents 60, rooms a year to Apple employees. Imagine having a hotel where Apple takes 60, rooms every year from you. That is just a licence to print money you know. It absolutely is, and Vanuatu of course is my place as well as Australia.
Well Diane I have to send you some more information on Vanuatu. Richard, as the Trade commissioner for Vanuatu and as a prominent international property developer, you obviously have a rich history in property development — tell our readers a little bit about yourself. I was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand.
I moved into sales in my late teens where I discovered my passion for working with people. In the early 70s I found work with an insurance company which operated in the North Island of New Zealand. I headed a team of salespeople after working in the industry for several years I decided Australia was larger appealing country with more opportunity , which saw myself then migrate to Sydney, Australia in I moved north to Brisbane in search of new challenge after starting a new insurance company from the registration with the government and then got the real estate bug, and started working with a senior property developer.
I soon became business partners with him and we became well known within the industry for sub-divisions throughout the east coast of Australia. We predominantly became involved in canal developments on the Gold Coast of Queensland and specialized in developing absolute beachfront and rural estates and selling them thru-out the country and internationally.. As a result there was no better place to invest in real estate than on waterfront or near waterfront property. The largest beach development we did was 3. Tell us a bit about Vanuatu i. It has an even temperature 22 to 32 degrees celsius throughout the year.
The water is a azure blue and is home to plenty of fish and other interesting marine life. Vanuatu is made up of 84 islands which include tropical rainforests, mountains and even 2 volcanoes on one of the outer islands which you can visit. The two main islands are Efate and Espiritu Santo, and both have international airports.
The capital city is Port Villa located on Efate island, which has a population of approximately 45, Vanuatu remains a member of the British Commonwealth, however the French influences are still evident within the island culture, particularly in the food and education sectors. The native people are referred to as the Ni-Vanuatu or Ni-Vans, and are a very friendly people. What do you think about the potential of Vanuatu as an investment destination?
An interesting fact is that Russia was member and Vanuatu was member It lists in the chapters everything you need to know about Vanuatu and its way of life, from education, banking, health, investment, business and relocation. How safe is it to invest in Vanuatu property and what taxes on profit and other taxes will the investor have to pay? All land in Vanuatu is on a year lease and a title is produced for land ownership which can be sold onto other investors. A small lease payment is paid yearly, and every 75 years the lease is renewed for a further 75 years after an independent valuation is done on the unimproved value of the land.
Can you tell us about a few Vanuatu projects? Experienced property developers always endeavor to create projects close by to other developments and areas receiving infrastructure spending. Our developments are close by to the existing airport and the new airport, which provides easy access in and out of the country. We have several resort developments happening at the moments where my title is project manager. Teouma Bay is a beautiful bay 2 km wide and 3 km deep, and is ideal for surfing, fishing, boating, swimming, scuba diving and snorkeling. We call them upmarket tribal design and our first display has just been finished.
Each lot can be further subdivided if the purchaser wishes to become a developer themselves. In addition, we also have other opportunities for large investors to participate in joint-venture partnerships in restaurants, beachfront development, acreage development resorts and harvesting of timber plantations and agriculture projects specializing in tropical fruits for international export.
Can you get residency if you invest in Vanuatu and how? For example, one of your readers could buy a block of land in our development today, which would settle in 21 days and they would be accepted within 30 to 90 days total as a resident T. We can assist with their application and migration through our approved consultants. Citizenship under normal conditions required you to live in Vanuatu for 10 years but there is a movement at the moment for investment citizenship to be made available now as this informatation is published. What taxes do Vanuatu residents pay on income in Vanuatu and outside Vanuatu?
When a purchaser buys a property in Vanuatu either personally or via their company registered in Vanuatu, they become a resident on any income earned in Vanuatu. However, they are exempt from personal and corporate taxation. Essentially there is no income taxation, although there is a value added tax VAT of However if you are moving to Vanuatu, you can bring with you a container of personal belongings including your motor vehicle and furniture which would be exempt from import tax.
If you have invested in Vanuatu and then need to repatriate your funds back to the country that you currently live, you would declare these funds and pay tax on them. I would suggest that you talk to an accountant in your own country with regards to the tax rules. There is no income tax or corporate tax in Vanuatu and there are also no death duties and no land tax.
Consequently this makes it a very appealing prospect to move to and enjoy the benefits of this South Pacific paradise. Is Vanuatu safe to hold your money? Vanuatu is safe like most other countries to hold your money. Does Vanuatu have any double-tax or information sharing agreements In Vanuatu both became members of the world trade organisation.
Universal rules apply with regards to money laundering but as Vanuatu does not have personal or commercial taxation, no capital gains tax, no land tax and no death duties;so there is no double taxation. What type of people have you seen investing in Vanuatu? There is an opportunity on every corner for investors at this point of time. As one of the smallest countries in the world with a total population of only , people,we require investors who would like to help the people of Vanuatu build their country which is still an emerging nation.
Here there are opportunities which are long gone in the Western, Northern and Eastern worlds. There are great opportunities for young couples who may start a tourist based business service which is a great idea given the enormous increase in tourism that we are experiencing. Other more mature investors have brought their expertise in accounting, law, medicine, engineering, construction, media, marine and aqua-culture, as well as older baby boomer type individuals who enjoys the less restrictive rules and regulations that you find in a laid-back country like the Republic of Vanuatu.
What sought of investors are interested in Vanuatu? Some of the richest people in the world are starting to discover and visit Vanuatu; we have been considered a hidden treasure. Through your connections, what sort of people can you introduce our readers to in Vanuatu? In May I was appointed a Trade Commissioner for the Republic of Vanuatu specializing in tourism and infrastructure investment, which has opened many doors for me including discussing investment with the International Monetary Fund the financial arm of the World Trade Organisation.
We have contacts with well respected individuals and can arrange for appointments and meetings for genuine investors with department heads and if available the ministers. We recently had Chinese investors that we introduced originally meet with the Prime Minister and heads of local business. For genuine and credible business investors, Vanuatu is truly open for business. If someone comes to invest in Vanuatu, what sort of activities can be organised whilst they are there? In Port Villa there are now over 40 restaurants amongst the tropical resorts that all serve fresh seafood, meats and vegetables.
We have a mixture of Australian, New Zealand and French wines.
Port Vila is known for its duty-free shopping but it also has many small shops to suit the ladies looking for bargains or unique souvenirs to take home. There are numerous tours ranging from cultural, fishing expeditions, sailing boat and motor boat cruises, horse riding plus all the new-age therapeutic experiences such as massage, day spas and a private beach clubs.
One activity that I highly recommend to do is to hire a car and drive round the island. My favorite place is having lunch at the Tamanu Restaurant where I know the fish I eat is caught that same morning within 1km or so from the restaurant ,accompanied chilled bottle of Australian Chardonnay goes down very well. With that, I extend an open invitation to all of your readers to come and join me as my guest for a lunch on a beautiful beach, where they can seize an incredible opportunity by buying a block of land in paradise.
It will be a day you will never forget! For complete details on the extraordinary Vanuatu offers, please complete and submit the form below to request your obligation-free information kit. We are heading towards boom times we can already smell it feel it and are in it we now offer over 8 projects for interested investors ,relocate-rs and retires looking for that escape hatch.
Vanuatu is one of the smallest populations in the World. Taking a flight from Australia, to Vanuatu would take approximately two hours. Recently, a radio program in America interviewed me. During the radio program, the interviewer expressed his opinion, that Australia is a paradise. People who live in Australia travel to Vanuatu. They enjoy the freedom of travelling to Vanuatu and enjoying the natural beauty and lifestyle. This is a rare freedom you can no longer find, living in most cities, Worldwide.
In Vanuatu, the air is free of pollution, when you breathe in the air, you can actually feel a noticeable difference. There are two main Islands in the group. One has the township called Port Vila and is called Efate and the other is called Espiritu Santo, which is the largest Island in Vanuatu. Some say, it is the most beautiful of the Islands. They both have amazing attractions. Port Vila is a bustling township, originally colonized by the French and the English who ran the Country before Independence.
How the WTO Will Change Vanuatu and How You Can Escape to this South Pacific Island Paradise - Kindle edition by Richard Butler. Download it once and. Get Instant Access to How The Wto Will Change Vanuatu And How You Can Escape To This South. Pacific Island Paradise By Richard Butler.
It was previously know as New Hebrides, jointly governed for 70 years before Independence and handover in However, both of these South Pacific Islands are about to change immensely. Russia officially became the th member. International banking circles now officially recognize The Republic of Vanuatu. International banking recognizes that Vanuatu is a Country that they can do business with.
Vanuatu will have enormous expansion and change in the next 10 years. It is well known fact in present time, that an emerging Nation is providing a higher ROI to worldly educated investors. Amazing stories have come from the past from this new country now called, The Republic of Vanuatu, with population of approximately , people, spread over 83 Islands.
The Parliament House is located as well as the main Bank buildings and the main Harbor, where both cruise ships and container ships are regularly in plain sight.
This article goes over buying real estate in Vanuatu, Vanuatu residency options, Vanuatu investments, and taxes. Get on a plane and fly somewhere. The business establishments commence business trading on Monday morning. I headed a team of salespeople after working in the industry for several years I decided Australia was larger appealing country with more opportunity , which saw myself then migrate to Sydney, Australia in The government of Vanuatu also wanted to encourage developers to develop tourism and agriculture endeavours in Vanuatu. Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Please enter an answer in digits:
There are plans to build since Carnival and P and O International Cruise Liner Companies have now brought the ships down from the Mediterranean and from the Caribbean and offer the international tourist, the opportunity of cruising the South Pacific for the first time. It was only a couple of years ago, Vanuatu was host to a cruise ship, once a week or once a fortnight. It arguably has, the best beach in the World aptly named Champagne Beach. The current increase in visiting cruise ships and airlines, creates an incredible increase in the tourist holiday market and holiday accommodation for Vanuatu and the international traveler.
Marketers tell us and recommend, that we will need between 2, and 4, hotel rooms to accommodate the influx of tourists to the beautiful haven of Vanuatu. Luganville, which is a smaller township than Port Vila. In Vanuatu, there is an open sky policy with direct international flights. From Australia the flight is, just over two hours from Brisbane. From Hong Kong and Los Angeles, approximate Vanuatu is an interesting and pleasant place to visit.
The coastline is beautiful and Vanuatu has Champaign Beach on the Northern Island of Santos, known as one of the best in the Pacific and a popular docking point for many cruise ships. Property prices have been steadily increasing over the years. The buoyancy in the market has been retained for several reasons: Chinese moving offshore, Australians and New Zealanders pulling out of their over-regulated countries, and the perception by investors that the Vanuatu Government genuinely wishes to attract foreign investment, particularly in tourism.
No land in Vanuatu is freehold. Leases up to 50 years for residential lots 75 for commercial ones are available. There are no restrictions on foreign ownership of property, other than land. Many luxury waterfront properties are now renting to holiday makers. The round-trip transaction costs, i. Rental income from leasing property is taxed at a flat There is no landlord-tenant law in Vanuatu. So landlord and tenant relations are governed entirely by the contract, and can be freely agreed upon.
Vanuatu, an archipelago of approximately 83 islands, is situated in the South-Western Pacific Ocean. Scuba diving is important. Vanuatu also has a significant offshore financial center. However, real GDP per capita had been stagnant through the 80s and 90s, with changes from the membership to the World Trade Organization th membership, infrastructure development is now booming.
Some have active volcanoes; others are covered by tropical rainforests. The climate varies considerably from tropical to subtropical according to exposure to trade winds and elevation.
Vanuatu is in the South Pacific part of Oceania, prone to earthquakes, tidal waves and hurricanes as are most countries of the South Pacific Rim, from Japan to New Zealand. House building now requires cyclone engineering to be a part of the construction process, to guard against such natural disasters.
Please enter an answer in digits: For more information please see our Contact Us page Guide to Buying Real Estate in Vanuatu As a commercial or property investor, the Republic of Vanuatu actively encourages your investment. Although citizenship is typically applied for after 10 years of residence in Vanuatu, in early the government introduced new methods for investors to obtain citizenship and Vanuatu passport Vanuatu Residency Options 1.
Yields are moderate to high in Vanuatu.