Plans for a major fish processing facility on Efate have moved a step closer after Sino-Van Fisheries confirmed it is continuing work towards establishing a processing plant that would significantly expand Vanuatu’s seafood industry.
The proposed facility would enable more tuna caught in Vanuatu waters to be processed domestically rather than exported in raw form, creating additional value within the country and generating hundreds of new jobs.
The company has been exporting fresh and frozen tuna since commencing operations in 2019, but the long-term objective has always been to establish local processing capacity. Industry leaders say the project would strengthen Vanuatu’s fisheries sector, reduce reliance on imported canned seafood and create opportunities for downstream industries including packaging, transport and logistics.
Progress has been slowed by land issues at the proposed Salili site near Port Vila, where longstanding occupation has complicated development. Company representatives have indicated they remain committed to resolving the issue in consultation with the government before construction proceeds.
Fisheries remain one of Vanuatu’s most valuable renewable resources, yet much of the economic value has traditionally been captured offshore through overseas processing.
Local processing would allow more of that value chain to remain within Vanuatu, supporting employment, export earnings and skills development while improving food security.
The proposal also aligns with broader Pacific ambitions to retain greater economic benefits from regional fisheries resources instead of exporting unprocessed products.
If completed, the processing plant would represent one of the largest investments in Vanuatu’s fisheries industry in recent years and could strengthen the country’s position as a regional seafood exporter.
