Results for Business

Three decades after Tonga banned whaling, in line with an international treaty, the taste of whale fat lingers on, and blubber enthusiasts joined the curious to watch a whale being butchered in Nuku‘alofa on July 10. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 3, July 1999.

High interest rates on loans from banks, particularly from the Tonga Development Bank, have caused concern among business people who say that it further restrains economic development due to a lack of capital funds. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 3, July 1999.

A proposal to set up a casino at Royal International Airport Inn-still under construction-has brought objections from church and community members in Tonga who are opposed to gambling. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 3, July 1999.

Royal Tongan Airlines awarded Certificates and Wings to its first group of trained Flight Attendants on August 21 at the Tonga National Centre. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 3, July 1999.

The 70 year-old wooden store of Bhagwan and Sons Ltd. traders on Hala Taufa‘ahau in central Nuku‘alofa has been demolished, and in its place a $500,000 a two storey building is being constructed. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 2, May 1999.

Tonga’s plentiful nonu trees may not be able to match the usefulness of coconut trees as the ‘tree of life’ for Tongans, but when the Royal Nonu International started buying nonu leaves in April for 80 seniti per kilogram, the nonu gained new status. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 2, May 1999.

Hamburg Sud., the parent company of Columbus Line and South Seas Steamship Line in March announced a two-phase program to upgrade its shipping services between North America, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and South America. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 2, May 1999.

Afu‘alo Matoto has taken over the leadership role of the TDB at a time when the Bank is expected to play a major role in reviving the Tongan economy, by providing capital for the development of the agricultural, fisheries and tourism industries - areas that urgently need development to pull the country out of its current economic recession. But he says Tonga needs to first resolve its leadership crisis: “We need to crystallise our position and to take action.” By Pesi Fonua. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 1, January 1999.

Pousima Afeaki started exporting in 1995 with one container of assorted produce…and by 1997 it had jumped to 65 containers. He is one of a handful of hard working Tongan farmer-exporters who can see a positive future for agricultural exports from Tonga. By Pesi Fonua. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 1, January 1999.