Australia is supporting Vanuatu's efforts to modernise public infrastructure management through the expansion of a digital platform across key government agencies, enabling more coordinated planning, maintenance and investment in roads, airports, ports and public buildings.
The expanded Project Management Information System (ProMIS) was jointly launched on November 11 at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities (MIPU) headquarters in Port Vila, extending the platform's capabilities to additional departments responsible for managing the country's public infrastructure.
The expansion brings the system to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu (CAAV), the Department of Ports and Harbours (DPH) and the Public Works Department's (PWD) Architects Unit. It builds on ProMIS's established use within PWD, where the system has been progressively developed and strengthened over the past seven years.
The initiative is supported by the Vanuatu-Australia Infrastructure for Development (VAI4D) programme, which is providing specialist technical assistance to help integrate the platform into the participating agencies.
ProMIS is designed to consolidate operational information across MIPU's infrastructure agencies, allowing government departments to monitor public assets, assess their condition, streamline operations and identify where maintenance and investment are required.
By bringing infrastructure-related information together, the system is expected to support more informed decisions on planning, budgeting, procurement and asset management, while improving the government's oversight of essential public facilities.
Vanuatu's Minister for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Xavier Emanuel Harry, said access to reliable information was critical to determining infrastructure priorities and directing government investment.
"We need to know what assets we have, where they are, their condition and where investment is needed. Bringing that information together helps us plan, procure and prioritise with confidence," Harry said at the launch.
He said reliable information was also essential to managing public resources responsibly and balancing immediate infrastructure requirements with the longer-term needs of communities and businesses.
The minister's remarks highlighted the importance of having a consolidated understanding of the country's infrastructure assets to support government planning and ensure investment decisions are based on operational requirements.
Australia's First Secretary for Infrastructure, Paul Regnault, acknowledged MIPU's leadership in progressively developing ProMIS and the importance of strengthening the systems supporting public infrastructure management.
"Behind every well-managed piece of infrastructure is good information, careful planning and sound decision-making. That is what ProMIS is helping to support," Regnault said.
He also recognised the contributions of MIPU personnel who use the platform in their daily work across the country and continue to provide input on improvements to the system.
Expanding digital infrastructure management
ProMIS was initially introduced in 2019 as a road works contract management system for the Public Works Department.
Following its development and use within PWD, the platform has now been expanded to cover additional MIPU functions, bringing the ministry's planning, budgeting, procurement, asset and fleet management, and operational oversight under one system.
Its expansion to the aviation, ports and architectural functions is intended to strengthen the coordination of infrastructure information across the ministry.
The platform will support agencies responsible for roads, airports, ports and government buildings by consolidating operational data that can inform infrastructure maintenance requirements, investment priorities and asset management decisions.
Technical advisers will continue working alongside MIPU personnel through the Vanuatu-Australia Partnership to tailor ProMIS to the operational requirements of individual departments.
The collaboration will also focus on improving the quality and use of information available to government agencies for infrastructure planning, investment decisions and asset management.
Supporting Vanuatu's digital transformation
The ProMIS expansion supports Vanuatu's broader goal of digitising all government business processes and delivering key public services online by 2030.
The target is outlined in The People's Plan, formally known as the National Sustainable Development Plan 2016–2030, which provides the country's long-term development framework.
The digital infrastructure initiative forms part of Australia's broader partnership with Vanuatu to strengthen public institutions and develop the technical capacity needed to manage resilient public infrastructure.
Through the expanded platform and continued technical support, the two countries aim to strengthen the government's ability to plan, maintain and invest in essential infrastructure, while improving the information available to agencies responsible for delivering public services.
