Tonga’s Cabinet to receive World Bank in Parliament [1]
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 - 06:34. Updated on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 - 06:47.
Tonga’s government will meet today with World Bank officials in Parliament.
In a statement, the World Bank said that Prime Minister Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva and the World Bank Vice President for East Asia and Pacific, Mr Axel van Trotsenburg, will meet first to discuss existing development activities and new partnership opportunities, then attend “a full Cabinet reception in Parliament.”
“Today’s meeting is part of an ongoing conversation and partnership between the government of Tonga and the World Bank, and I look forward to seeing how we can deepen our support for the people of Tonga and the country’s ambitious development goals,” van Trotsenburg said.
Mr van Trotsenburg and a team of World Bank officials will also meet with senior Cabinet ministers and visit reconstruction projects in Ha‘apai.
During the two-day visit the World Bank vice president will attend a breakfast with the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and visit the landing site of the 826-kilometer fibre optic cable connecting Tonga to Fiji.
“This trip reinforces our steadfast dedication to long-term and robust development in the Pacific, including in Tonga,” he said.
The World Bank currently has a portfolio of six active projects for a total commitment of $91.6 million (including co-financing and trust fund contributions) in Tonga. The projects support development in information communication technology, public financial management, resilience to climate change and natural disasters, maritime and roads infrastructure, aviation and education.
The statement said that the visit also provides an opportunity for Mr van Trotsenburg to consult on a planned report titled ‘Pacific Possible’ that will analyze key development opportunities with significant potential for long-term and robust impact. The project covers six focus areas: tourism, ocean resources, the knowledge economy, labor mobility, working together, and threats.
Pacific Possible will examine the potential increases in income and living standards that could be achieved through regional policies supported by Pacific Island countries, along with partners around the broader Pacific Rim including: Australia, Japan, Korea and others.
“...The World Bank has experience at using data and analysis to develop beneficial policy opportunities for countries – Pacific Possible aims to do the same for Pacific Island nations,” van Trotsenburg said.