The Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Mr Houlin Zhao official launched a new Tonga government portal at the office of the Ministry of Information, this morning, 10 March.

This new government portal website at this stage will be like a gateway to other government ministries websites.

Andrew To’imoana, the director of the Information Division of MEIDECC (Tonga's Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communication), said that they will provide highlights information from other ministries, but if one wants more detail information then they just go straight to that ministry’s own website.

He said that the next stage of the development of the government portal will be for it to host all government ministries websites.

Mr Zhao is on a two-days official visit to Tonga, the beginning of his first visit to the Pacific Islands region since he became the Secretary-General of the ITU in January 2015.

Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for MEIDECC said that this new government portal is another milestone in government’s strive to make information accessible to people throughout Tonga, and to the rest of the world.

The government first established a Ministry of Information in 2009; the Fibre Optic Cable arrived in 2013, making internet connection faster, accessible by more people, and cheaper.

He said that the Secretary General Zhao on this visit has presented government with five satellite systems, and two of these systems will be for Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou.

Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala attended the launch as guest of honour, and also present were the Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva, Cabinet Ministers, and foreign diplomats.