A Chinese company Zhuhai Singyes that is investing more than $10 million pa’anga to build a 2 m megawatts solar farm in Tonga will sell its energy to Tonga Power Ltd. at a negotiated price.

The foreign investment in the energy sector is one of two large undertakings by Chinese companies in Tonga, the Chinese Ambassador to Tonga, HE Mr Huang Huaguang told a reception on Wednesday evening.

He said that in addition to Singyes, the Chinese Yanbei Group is making an investment of $9.6 million pa’anga to set up the ‘Ofa ki Tonga Company, which will get involved in the business of bottling water, and food processing.

Tonga and China have enjoyed diplomatic relations for 18 years. 

China today has the second biggest economy in the world and, according to the Ambassador, China contributes almost 30% of the World’s economic growth.

China's most prominent development aid to Tonga, is the construction of the St George Palace project, which will house government ministries. The construction “has been going smoothly,” said HE Huaguang.

Apart from China-aid projects, the Ambassador also mentioned multi-million commercial ventures projects that have been signed between Chinese companies and their Tongan counterparts, saying this is a new approach to boost Tonga’s economic development.

Early this month, the Chinese Zhuhai Singyes Company signed a Power Purchase Agreement with Tonga Power. He said that these ventures will provide jobs for the locals, revenue for the government and it will increase Tonga’s export.

 Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni also spoke at the reception.