TNZBA thanks Tonga Govt for Pacific Trade Expo initiative [1]
Tuesday, April 1, 2008 - 18:28. Updated on Sunday, October 26, 2014 - 16:17.
The Tonga/New Zealand Business Association is grateful to the Government of Tonga and the NEDC for its generous support to help Tongan businesses and other private sector groups to take part in the Pacific Trade Expo held earlier this month in Auckland, New Zealand. The goal at the Pacific Expo for Tonga was to attract export orders for Tongan products and services, and also to attract investment from New Zealand. Increased exports and investment will create more jobs for Tongans in Tonga.
Thirty Tongan private sector businesses, 10 handcraft businesses, the Tonga Visitor's Bureau NZ and CAPAA, including all of the handicraft and performing arts took part in the Pacific Expo. The Tonga exhibition of 13 booths was the largest from the Pacific. Products and services included frozen taro and cassava, pickles, jams and crisps, coconut oil and moisturiser, coffee, farming and export expertise, frozen fish and marine products, cedar furniture, handcrafts, music CD's, media services, kava, travel agency services, performing arts, rental car and waste-recycling services, and many more. Visitors to the Tonga exhibition as well as Tongans were surprised at the wide range of products and services available in Tonga.
One of the highlights of the Pacific Expo was the performance by the group from the 'Atenisi Performing Arts Foundation at the opening ceremony attended by Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand and Hon Dr Fred Sevele, Prime Minister of Tonga, and by other dignitaries from New Zealand and the Pacific. The 'Atenisi Performing Arts group were also one of the exhibitors from Tonga at the Pacific Expo.
The Pacific Expo was successful in generating interest and orders for Tongan products and services. Already, negotiations for potential export orders have been received and discussions are continuing between Tongan and New Zealand businesses with regard to much of the business contacts made during the Expo.
Support
The Government, following a request from the Association, generously contributed $100,000 towards the costs of Tongan businesses and private sector groups taking part in the Pacific Expo. With this funding, the Association was able to increase the number of booths from four (two subsidised by NZHC) to 13.) The Association was able to use this funding to pay for 2.5 tonnes of subsidised freight (courtesy of Air New Zealand) for display products from the 40 + trade and handcraft exhibitors. In addition, Government funding was used to pay for a promotion magazine, as well as paying for airfares only for the ...Atenisi Performing Arts group. The remainder of the exhibitors paid for their own airfares.
The Association is extremely satisfied that Tonga through the Pacific Trade Expo, increased awareness of other island nations products and standards of packaging and promotion of goods and generated new suppliers, advisors and export orders for Tongan products and services. These results will lead to more jobs for Tongans in Tonga.
Many of the participants also attended the seminars, which took place during the Expo, education and updating knowledge are also very important facets of this Expo.
The Association thanks the Government through NEDC for its generous support. The Association looks forward to working with Government to stimulate growth in the private sector and the creation of many more jobs in Tonga.
Tongan businesses/b>
List of Tongan businesses who exhibited at the Pacific Trade Expo.
TNZBA and its members at Pacific Trade Expo March 2008
Handcraft Sector including Luisa ...Uata, Steven Fehoko, ...Atenisi, CAPAA, Tonga Handcraft Association and many individual artists.
Tonga tourism businesses including Matafonua resort Ha`apai, Heilala Holiday Lodge,Blue Banana, FAB Rentals, Tongatapu. TVB NZ and Tonga. Tonga Magic magazine.
Manufacturing and retail sector- included Skips Custom Joinery Ltd, Tinopai, Royal Coffee, Kava Kane, Eneio Enterprises, Pacific Aqua Products Ltd, Airport Enterprises.
Services - represented by Professional PR, Quality Managament Services, Palu Aviation, Kramer Tonga, MLUF, Mary McCoy and Drew Havea...s book, Understanding Tonga, and Waste Management Ltd.
Agriculture - Export Culture Ltd, Nishi trading Ltd, Norsa Enterprises Ltd, Heilala Vanilla Co Ltd, Pacific Biotech tissue culture lab, Buster family-...Eua,
Fishing sector- Zaphnath Pacifica Export, Pacific Aqua Products Ltd, Quality Fishing.
Media ... Matangi Tonga Online, Taimi Tonga, Tonga Magic,
Government - Tonga Trade, Ministry of Labour Commerce and Industries, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Transport, and info packs from Inland Revenue. - Tonga New Zealand Business Association. 1 April 2008.