Vanuatu’s involvement in the Indonesia–Pacific Cultural Synergy 2025 has underscored the nation’s dedication to cultural diplomacy, sustainable development, and the growth of its creative industries. Sikadra Nellie Tovosia, a Senior Officer at the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, emphasized that the forum served as an essential stage for Vanuatu to promote its unique identity and cultivate strategic partnerships.
Tovosia highlighted that the primary objective for Vanuatu’s participation in IPACS was to enhance cultural diplomacy, strengthen regional connections, and showcase the richness of the country’s traditional heritage. She explained that Vanuatu’s cultural elements—its languages, crafts, dances, and ancestral knowledge—are integral not only to its identity but also to its developmental strategies.
Additionally, Tovosia pointed out the importance of framing culture as a key component of sustainable development for climate-vulnerable nations like Vanuatu. By intertwining cultural preservation with development, the nation can carve out pathways that safeguard its identity while adapting to and thriving in changing environmental conditions.
The forum also revealed promising economic opportunities within the Pacific’s creative sectors. Tovosia noted that IPACS advocates for innovative cultural products that carry market value, suggesting significant potential for expanding Vanuatu’s creative economy through crafts, performance arts, and cultural tourism that are both authentic and financially rewarding.
Reflecting on the outcomes of IPACS, Tovosia expressed optimism about returning to Port Vila with strengthened partnerships, enhanced knowledge, and viable avenues for the development of Vanuatu’s cultural and creative industries. She underscored the shared regional commitment to harnessing culture as a force for resilience and sustainability.
The long-term cooperation intentions signaled by IPACS 2025 open doors for enduring exchanges between artists in Vanuatu and Indonesia, fostering collaboration in co-creation, co-training, and co-marketing of cultural products across the region. Future partnerships may pave the way for student exchanges, academic collaborations, and creative industry training programs.
Tovosia also commended the spirit of unity evident at the forum, noting that culture serves as a formidable driver of economic growth, social cohesion, and innovation. Encouraged by commitments to ongoing collaboration, she called for deeper ties among Melanesian nations, including West Papua.
She articulated a desire for improved mobility and cooperation among the peoples of Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia, advocating that Indonesia extend similar freedoms to West Papua. By fostering educational, resource-sharing, and economic opportunities, Tovosia believes Indonesia will enhance trust and understanding among Melanesian communities.