Tonga's fisheries exporters launch draft strategic plan for industry growth [1]
Monday, June 16, 2008 - 15:59. Updated on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 - 16:12.
A sustainable, dynamic, equitable, accountable and well-informed fishing industry, is the vision of a Strategic Development Plan for Economic Growth (SDPEG) that was recently developed for the Tonga Export Fisheries Association (TEFA).
The SDPEG reflects the issues that are impeding the development of the fishing industry in Tonga, and identifies strategies that TEFA will implement in partnership with Government and other all stakeholders.
The main objectives of the SDPEG are to strengthen working relationships with Government, industry stakeholders at all levels, and strengthen partnerships with other sectors in the economy, and in particular the productive sectors in order to create an enabling environment for business growth.
Another important strategy of the Plan is to increase awareness of the general public on the importance of sustainable management practices of marine resources, and the crucial role that TEFA plays in uniting the fishing industry in Tonga.
To reflect the uniting role of TEFA, the SDPEG outlines the restructuring of TEFA to become a more inclusive body that is representative of the fishing industry at all levels, through its trading name; the Fishing Industry Association of Tonga (FIAT).
TEFA was incorporated in July of 1996. In the past work has included lobbying Government and relevant organisations on issues that have affected exports and represent the industry at meetings both nationally and regionally. With assistance from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) through its Devfish project, TEFA's permanent secretariat was established in 2006, and has since become an important player at the regional level with regards to fisheries issues.
First draft
Inputs to the first draft of the SDPEG will be sought from key stakeholders, Government Ministries and regional organisations before the final document is made public.
The National Economic and Development Council are in full support of this effort and have urged other sectors to follow suit.
Speaking at the presentation of the SDPEG recently, the Hon. Paul Karalus, Minister for Transport and Acting Chairman of the National Economic Development Council, congratulated the fisheries industry for taking the leading role in defining its industry and identifying its way forward. He stated that this effort exemplifies the council's intention to provide for a direct link into Cabinet for the various economic sectors through properly representative umbrella organisations to engage the natural, human and capital resources in the most economic ways to ensure the "diverse, viable, sustainable and enjoyable" development of the national economy.
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat's Private Sector Development Unit and the Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission - New Zealand facilitated the process that resulted in the initial SDPEG draft.
Funding for this project was provided by the European Union under the Pacific Regional Economic Integration Program (PACREIP) and the Government of Tonga, through the National Economic and Development Council. -Press Release from Tonga Export Fisheries Association.