Tonga's Online Business Registries System launched [1]
Saturday, December 6, 2014 - 23:07. Updated on Saturday, December 6, 2014 - 23:09.
Tonga is making it easier for people to start up business, with the launch of an Online Business Registries Systom on 2 December at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre, by Hon. Dr Viliami Latu, the Minister for Commerce, Tourism and Labour in the caretaker government.
The Online Business Registries System enables anyone, locally or overseas to register new companies, business names or business licenses online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
It will also enable small businesses in rural areas to register their businesses, and to open a bank account.
Dr Andrea Iffland, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Regional Director for the Pacific pointed out that it would mean that these small businesses will pay a little tax, but they would be contributing to the development of the Tongan economy.
According to Andrea, Tonga is the first Pacific Island to provide an electronic database for all its business entities at <www. businessregistries.gov.to>.
Terry Reid, an ADB International Business Law and Business Registry Expert said the idea for an Online Business Registries for Tonga was initiated six years ago in 2008.
He praised the enthusiasm and the commitment of the government to the idea and that the Online Business Registry had finally become a reality.
The Online Business Registry makes it easier for the business community, government legislators, and the public to search the business register for information on directors, shareholders, business names and license owners.
Hon. Dr Viliami Latu, the Minister for Commerce, Tourism and Labour expressed his appreciation that one of the former government's working programs was completed before the end of the term of the current government.
The project was jointly funded by the Tongan government, the New Zealand Government and the Asian Development Bank ADB.