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Tuvalu profile

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Current business situation



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Visiting this country

Security & health, Visas, Travel tips & facts

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Country overview

Country facts, Economic climate, Trade relations & statistics

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Useful websites and resources 

Government, business & trade, News & media, Travel & tourism

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Doing business

Business opportunities, Business etiquette, Tariffs & regulations, Documentation, Taxation                 

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Contact details

Austrade offices, Australian Embassy


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Current business situation

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides advice for business travellers and tourists going to Tuvalu. This is regularly updated, and should be checked before planning travel.

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Country overview

Country facts

Capital city: Fongafale
Surface area: 26 sq km
Population: 10,380
Official language(s): Tuvaluan, English
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Head of State: H.M. Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General H.E. Hon Reverend Filomea Telito
Head of Government: Prime Minister The Hon Mr Apisai Ielemia
Australian exports to Tuvalu: A$3,523,000
Australian imports from Tuvalu: A$408,000
Tuvalu's principal export destinations: Germany, Italy, Fiji
Tuvalu's principal import sources: Fiji, Japan, China

(Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Country economic fact sheet)

Economic climate

Key economic indicators and statistics for 2002*:

GDP - US$15 million
GDP per capita - US$1564
Real GDP growth - 1.2 per cent
Inflation - 5 per cent

(*latest available statistics)

Trade relations and statistics

Major Australian exports to Tuvalu (2005-06):

  • Meat (excluding bovine) - A$432,000
  • Sugars, molasses and honey - A$272,000
  • Pumps for gas - A$194,000
  • Tobacco, manufactured - A$130,000

Major Australian imports from Tuvalu (2005-06):

  • Civil engineering equipment - A$128,000
  • Carboxylic acids & derivatives - A$73,000
  • Manufactures of mineral materials - A$35,000
  • Crude vegetable materials - A$28,000

(Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Country economic fact sheet)

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Doing business

Business opportunities

The Opportunities Online website may be a useful addition to your information sources. The database established by Austrade aims to deliver international sales leads ('export opportunities'), including tenders, generated by our overseas network to Australian businesses.
 

Registering is simple and once this is done you will have the option of accessing a weekly newsletter featuring the most recent opportunities uploaded onto the system in industry sectors of interest to you. Another feature is the ability to view, and also print, the complete page of opportunity details.
 

For general inquiries concerning Austrade’s services, please contact Austrade Direct on 13 28 78.

Business etiquette

Please note: Bribery of foreign public officials is a crime. Australian individuals and companies can be prosecuted in Australia for bribing foreign officials when overseas. For more information, go to the Attorney General's Department on foreign bribery.

Tariffs and regulations

Import restrictions 

Most goods are admitted under open general licence. Specific licences are required for precious metals in bullion and manufactured forms, precious stones and jewellery.

Prohibited items include:

  • arms and ammunition
  • explosives (including pyrotechnics)
  • offensive or obscene goods
  • alcohol absolute
  • poisons
  • narcotics
  • secondhand clothing
  • motor cycles having engine capacities not exceeding 250cc

Tariff

Single-column tariff based on the Harmonised System. Duties are mainly ad valorem, assessed on either the FOB price (Incoterms 1990) or current domestic value in the country of origin, whichever is greater.

Specific duties are levied on a range of items, including:

  • alcoholic beverages
  • tobacco products
  • specified chemicals
  • petroleum products
  • cinematographic film and playing cards
  • used motor vehicles

Customs authority contact details:

Director of Customs and Taxation Control Ministry of Finance
Funafuti
Tel: +688 20 235
Fax: +688 20 816

Packing, marking and labelling

Normal commercial practice for packing. Outer containers should bear the consignee’s mark and port mark, and should be numbered (to accord with packing list) unless their contents can be otherwise readily identified.

Specific regulations cover the carriage and marking of dangerous and hazardous cargoes.

Weights and measures

The metric system.

Insurance

Normal commercial practice.

Methods of quoting and payment

Quotes in Australian dollars or Pound Sterling, FOB and CIF (Incoterms 1990) Funafuti. Payment through usual banking facilities.

Public health requirements

Plants and seeds, soil, animals (including fish, birds and insects) and certain types of fresh fruit and vegetables are restricted on health grounds. Details may be obtained from the Office of Ministry of Natural Resources, Tuvalu.

Documentation

Particular attention should be given to facilitating fast delivery of documents necessary for clearing goods through customs in view of the short shipping time between Australia and Tuvalu.

Pro-forma invoice

Not required unless there is a delay in forwarding final invoices.

Commercial invoice

No prescribed form. Two copies required. The invoice must include usual information, including:

  • Complete description of goods, in normal commercial terms (use of brand names or codes without  further description must be avoided).
  • Current domestic value and selling price (each must be stated unless they are identical).

Combined invoice and certificate of value and origin required when letter of credit terms specify such conditions.

Bill of lading

Original bill of lading. 'To Order' bills are acceptable. Note: Exporters are warned that special precautions should be taken when it is necessary to transship goods to Tuvalu through Fiji. An agent should be appointed at the transshipping port to arrange for the goods to be on-forwarded.

Certificate of insurance

Normal commercial practice.

Packing list

A copy must accompany invoice.

Special certificates

Brandy, whisky and rum require certificates stating they have been matured in wood for not less than three years.

Plants require certificates of fumigation from the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Second-hand goods (eg. clothing and motor vehicles) require special certificates.

Taxation

A tax of 2.59 per cent  assessed on the duty-plus value, is levied on all items. Import freight levy is applied on shipping tonnage. Petroleum products are exempt.

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Visiting this country

Security and health

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides advice for business travellers and tourists going to Tuvalu. This is regularly updated, and should be checked before planning travel.

Visas

Australian citizens entering Tuvalu for up to 30 days don't need a visa provided they have a valid passport and a return ticket.

Travel tips and facts

For further travel information please visit Lonely Planet

Time

Tuvalu is two hours ahead of Australian Eastern Standard Time.

To find out the current time in Fongafale, view the World Clock.

Dialling codes

Tuvalu's country code is 688

For calls to Tuvalu from Australia dial: 0011 + 688 + telephone number.

For calls from Tuvalu to Australia 00 + 61 + area code + telephone number.


For information (eg. area codes) please visit the White Pages - international dialling codes.

Electricity

The electricity supply is AC, 50 cycles, 240 volts.

Currency

Oanda currency converter

The local currency is the Australian dollar.

Public holidays

January 1 - New Year's Day
March 12 - Commonwealth Day
May 13 - Gospel Day
June 9 - Queen's Birthday
August 5 - National Children's Day
October 1 - Independence Day
December 25 - Christmas Day
December 26 - Boxing Day

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Useful websites and resources

Government, business and trade

Government of Tuvalu - www.gov.tv  

News and media

Inside Oceania - www.insideoceania.com/tuvalu.php
Tuvalu News Headlines - www.tuvaluislands.com/news/news-head.htm

Travel and tourism

Timeless Tuvalu - www.timelesstuvalu.com

Please note: this list of websites and resources is not definitive. Inclusion in this list does not imply endorsement by Austrade. The information provided is a guide only.

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Contact details

Austrade offices

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) is the Federal Government agency that helps Australian companies win overseas business for their products and services by reducing the time, cost and risk involved in selecting, entering and developing international markets.

Austrade offers practical advice, market intelligence and ongoing support (including financial) to Australian businesses looking to develop international markets. Austrade also provides advice and guidance on overseas investment and joint venture opportunities, and helps put Australian businesses in contact with potential overseas investors.

The Austrade office in Fiji is responsible for Tuvalu and can assist with any queries. A list of Austrade offices (in alphabetical order of country) is available.

For further information please contact Austrade on 13 28 78 or email info@austrade.gov.au

Australian Embassy

Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Tuvalu. Australians may obtain consular assistance from the High Commission in Fiji.

Australian High Commission
37 Princes Road
Tamavua, Suva FIJI
Tel: +679 338 2211
Fax: +679 338 2065
Website: www.fiji.embassy.gov.au


Business hours:
8.00am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4.30pm, Monday to Friday


(Last updated: 28 Feb 2008)

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