Tonga's state owned enterprises feature on new website [1]
Thursday, April 20, 2017 - 01:43. Updated on Thursday, April 20, 2017 - 14:32.
Tonga's state owned enterprises are featured on an updated website [2] of the Ministry of Public Enterprises, that was launched by Hon. Poasi Tei, the Minister of Public Enterprises and Tatafu Moeaki, the Asian Development Bank Representative this morning, 19 April at the Tonga Post Building.
Information about Tonga’s 14 SOEs has been grouped into four sectors.
The four sectors with their composed enterprises are:
Transport Sector:
- The Ports Authority Tong
- Tonga Airports Ltd
- Friendly Islands Shipping Agency.
Board of Directors for the Transport Sector are:
- Stephen Edwards
- Sione Tu’itupou Fotu, Member
- Viliami Takau Jr, Member
- Tomifa Paea, Member
- Helen Po’uliva’atu Toli, Member.
Information Communications Technology Sector:
- The Tonga Communications Corporation
- Tonga Post Ltd
- Tonga Broadcasting Commission.
Board of Directors for the Tonga Communications Sector are:
- Tapu Panuve, Chairperson
- ‘Aloma Johansson, Member
- ‘Ahongalu Fusimalohi, Member
- Pita Moala, Member
- Siosaia Fonua, Member.
Utility Sector:
- Tonga Power Ltd
- Tonga Water Board
- Waste Authority Ltd.
Board of Directors for the Utility Sector are:
- Carl Sanft, Chairperson
- Dr Nailasikau Halafu’itu’ia, Member
- ‘Aisake Tuiono, Member
- Fuiva Kavaliku, Member
- Sione Havea Taione, Member.
Other Sector:
- Tonga Development Bank
- Tonga Cable Ltd
- Tonga Assets Manager and Association
- Tonga Market Corporation Ltd
- Tonga Export Quality Management Ltd.
The five State-owned Enterprise SEO boards left to be restructured are the Tonga Development Bank, Tonga Cable Ltd, Tonga Assets Manager and Associations, Tonga Market Corporation Limited and Tonga Export Quality Management Limited.
The Ministry of Public Enterprises website was updated with support from the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative, an Asian Development Bank (ADB) technical assistance program, and was co-funded by Australia and New Zealand.
Christopher Russell, State-owned Enterprise & Governance Expert from the ADB told Matangi Tonga that although each Public Enterprise is a separate legal entity with their own board, a shared board structure reduces costs and at the same time improves governance.
“Sharing directors encourages the use of shared services amongst the Public Enterprises (reducing costs), encourages sharing good practice (reduces cost and improves services) and shares board expertise (stronger governance.)”
He added that as an example, the three public enterprises such as Tonga Power, Tonga Water Board and Waste Authority under the Utilities group will each have a separate board but with the same people sitting in each board.
“They are the same people, but 3 separate boards, hence the term ‘shared directors’.”