The world's most remote country has its first ATM

Tuvalu has a highest point of only about 4.5 m above sea level.

Tuvalu - a tropical paradise in the middle of the Pacific Ocean - is one of the most remote countries in the world , famous for its vibrant coral reefs and rich seafood resources.

Located between Australia and Hawaii, Tuvalu is so isolated that all transactions - whether for residents or tourists - have traditionally been conducted in cash. Therefore, the country's official launch of its first ATMs on April 15 was a big event, CNN Travel reported.

On the main island of Funafuti, Prime Minister Feleti Teo and local officials gathered in front of one of the new ATMs to celebrate the milestone. He presented the new machine to the country and cut a giant chocolate cake with local officials to mark the occasion.

Prime Minister Feleti Teo (second from right) and officials celebrate the installation of ATMs in Tuvalu

Siose Teo, CEO of the National Bank of Tuvalu, which operates the ATM, called it a "huge achievement" and a "transformative step" that would " economically empower the people of Tuvalu", which has a population of just 11,200.

Nisar Ali - representative of Pacific Technology Limited, the ATM design unit - shared with ABC (Australia): "It will definitely break down barriers, bringing people closer to modern and reliable banking services".

Tuvalu is one of the world’s smallest countries, with nine small islands covering a total area of just 26 square kilometers. Very few tourists visit. According to government data, just over 3,000 tourists visited Tuvalu in 2023.

The country has just one airport, located in Funafuti, which serves a few flights a week from neighboring Fiji. When no planes are landing, the runway becomes a playground for locals, playing everything from soccer to rugby. Between islands, people travel by ferry because there are no domestic flights.

With its highest point just 4.5 metres above sea level, Tuvalu is extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels and is one of the countries most threatened by the climate crisis.

Not only is saltwater eroding the coastline, it is also damaging the country’s limited agricultural land. Warming ocean temperatures are also threatening the surrounding marine ecosystem.

Tuvalu made international headlines in 2021 when its then foreign minister, Simon Kofe, spoke at the United Nations in knee-deep water, highlighting the country's risk of disappearing.

HQ (according to znews)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/quoc-gia-heo-lanh-nhat-the-gioi-lan-dau-co-may-atm-409762.html