Tonga will receive AUD$4 million in Budget Support for each financial year over the next three years, from the Australian Government.

Australian High Commissioner to Tonga, HE Mr Andrew Ford, and Tonga’s Minister of Revenue & Customs and Acting Minister of Finance and National Planning, Hon Tevita Lavemaau signed the commitment under the Performance Link Agreement.

Tatafu Moeaki, CEO for Finance and National Planning, said he was grateful for the assistance given to Tonga.

“It is a great support as this amount of money will be allocated to the government’s budget and it will be used on the usual expenses of the government like salaries and others. This is estimated to [be] TOP$7 million pa’anga in each financial year,” he said.

Mr Ford stated he was pleased to sign the agreement, which is a symbol of good relations between the two countries. “This shows Australia’s commitment to ongoing development in Tonga as well as economic reform.”

He added that Australia’s bilateral budget in Tonga remains unchanged with funding to continue next year. “It reflects Australia’s strong commitment to development and also reforming the Pacific,” he said.