List of News > APG delegation visits Port Vila, Vanuatu

25 January, 2013

On 22 and 23 January 2013 an APG delegation visited Vanuatu and met the following persons in the capital city, Port Vila:

• Prime Minister. 
• Attorney General.
• Governor, Reserve Bank of Vanuatu.
• Police Commissioner.
• Director General, Ministry of Finance.
• Chair, Vanuatu Financial Services Advisory Group.
• Commissioner, Vanuatu Financial Services Commission. 

The APG delegation consisted of: 

• Bob Williams: Head, Cook Islands FIU and APG Steering Group (Pacific) representative.
• Gordon Hook: APG Executive Secretary.

The delegation discussed a variety of issues relating to APG membership issues including the pace of Vanuatu’s AML/CFT reforms. In particular, discussions addressed the structure of the money laundering and terrorist financing offences in Vanuatu; the Financial Transactions Reporting Bill; the Payment Systems Bill, the International Companies Amendment Act, the Company and Trust Services Providers Act and recent amendments to the laws relating to mutual legal assistance and extradition.  In addition, there were lengthy discussions on the rules and procedures of the FATF’s International Cooperation Review Group and their application to members of the APG. Further discussions focused on the provision of technical assistance and training in relation to the new FATF standards adopted in February 2012. 

The Prime Minister, Sato Kilman, expressed his strong commitment that Vanuatu will implement further changes to the AML/CFT system in his country as soon as possible.   

Photo: Prime Minister Sato Kilman of Vanuatu (centre), Bob Williams (right) and Gordon Hook (left). Click on photo for larger view.