A ground-breaking ceremony for the Nuku’alofa Port Upgrade Project was held at the Queen Salote wharf on 26 October.

Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku led the ceremony joined by ADB Director General for the Pacific, Leah Gutierrez, Tonga Ports Authority management, and other development partners.

Ms Gutierrez said that more than 98% of Tonga’s imports arrive by sea and the Nuku’alofa Port is Tonga’s main international port, and an economic lifeline for the country. The project is a major upgrade for the wharf and its various operations.

"This project will play a critical role in upgrading the existing port facilities, increase safety and efficiency of port operations and promote long-term commercial sustainability of port operations."

“This further deepens our relationship with Tonga and this year marks the 50^th anniversary of ADB’s partnership with Tonga and we remain committed to helping them reach their development goals.

“ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.”

Hon. Hu’akavameiliku said the ground-breaking ceremony today marked the beginning of the physical construction for the biggest upgrade for the Queen Salote International Wharf.

“Through the direct investment from the ADB and the Australian Infrastructure financing facility for the Pacific, the civil works is finally commencing."

He said that the Nuku’alofa Port upgrade project will rehabilitate, renew and expand the existing infrastructure of the only international cargo port in Tonga, and will also improve the management and operation practices of its Port Authority.

Hon Hu’akavameiliku said that, the project was not only aligned with the government's strategic priority of providing a safer, more reliable and more affordable transport infrastructure and services in Tonga, but also addressed some of ADB’s operational priorities, such as regional cooperation and integration, climate change and disaster resilience.

The project delivers three key outputs, which include:

• Rehabilitating infrastructure including the rehabilitation of both the international and all domestic wharfs, a new concrete seawall, reorganization and reconstruction of the container yard and rehabilitation of the port auxiliary infrastructure

• Expand existing infrastructure, including the extension of the international wharf by 50 meters and construction of 4 mooring dolphins for safer dockings of larger vessels during loading and unloading operations and the relocation of a general relocation marker.

• Improving capacity, management, operational practices at the wharf, through introducing environment sustainable practices development of an asset management maintenance plan and training on yard equipment operations.

At the completion of the project, it is planned that Tonga’s port of entry will become more efficient to facilitate the import and export of goods at a greater speed.

Fanga'uta Lagoon Bridge project

Hon. Hu’akavameiliku said that the government is keen to advance the readiness of the Fanga'uta Lagoon Bridge project, as the next transportation project to be funded by ADB, which remains relevant and a priority for government’s infrastructure project.