Tonga's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (MAFF) will receive new equipment to, under Japan's Non-Project Grant Aid (NPGA), with an Exchange of Notes signed by the Minister of MAFF, Lord Fohe, and the Ambassador-designate of Japan to Tonga, HE Mr Inagaki Hisao, yesterday, 11 January, in Nuku'alofa.

Japan's NPGA valued at JPY300 million or over USD2 million, will provide equipment to assist MAFF with agricultural processing, research and development. Priority equipment iincludes washer machines, peeling, slicing, grinding and packaging machines, along with deshelling and desiccating machines for coconuts, trucks, a double cab van, and forklifts.

 “This equipment will help your Ministry take good steps towards the modernization of crops to open up new domestic and hopefully international markets,” said Mr Inagaki.

The Minister for MAFF, Lord Fohe and HE Mr Inagaki Hisao signed on the Exchange of Notes on Japan’s Non-project Grant Aid (NPGA) for the provision of the equipment.

 Lord Fohe thanked Japan’s support and assistance and said he hoped that  this assistance would encourage increased consumption of healthy domestic food products, contributing to the reduction of non-communicable diseases.

 The multi-million NPGA  from Japan has assisted Government Ministries of Tonga, with provision of equipment, promoting the economic and social development of Tonga.