During a farewell visit to Tonga the German Ambassador HE Joerg Zimmermann handed over a refurbished kitchen for the Alonga Centre for the handicapped in Tonga, and visited other German aid projects.

On the four-days visit from May 18-22 Ambassador Zimmermann had an audience with HM King George Tupou V and held discussions with the Acting Prime Minister Hon. Tuita, and the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Va'inga Tone. The ambassador was accompanied by his wife Mrs Cabriella Zimmermann.

The German Honorary Consul to Tonga, Carl Sanft, said that a highlight of the visit was the handing over of a fully refurbished kitchen to the Alonga, home for handicapped in Tonga, attended by Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho, the Patron of the Alonga Centre. The refurbishing of the kitchen was completed with a new stove, refrigerator and kitchen utensils and valued at $20,000.

Ambassador Zimmermann also visited Vaiola Hospital where the German Embassy has donated $11,000 worth of computer equipment.

Other German aid projects included support for the physiotherapy unit at Vaiola Hospital, a solar powered water pump for Ha'ateiho, and computers for schools.

Ambassador Zimmerman has served a three and a half years term as ambassador to Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and the Cook Islands, based in Wellington, New Zealand.