Two major aid donors Australia and New Zealand, joined with Tonga in the first Three-way Aid consultations this week to co-ordinate their ongoing aid efforts.

The meeting held in Nuku...’alofa earlier this week was concluded with the signing of a record of the Trilateral Meeting by the delegates of the three countries. They were Va...’inga Tone, the Acting Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who chaired the meeting, Ms Judith Robinson, the head of the Australian delegation and the Assistant Director General for Pacific Programs; and the Director of Pacific Aid Programs, Mr Craig Hawke.

The record was signed at the residence of the New Zealand High Commissioner, on February 15, and Va'inga said that the objective of the tripartite talk was to raise the level of, "efficiency and effectiveness of aid to Tonga through the openness and cooperation of all three countries."

Judith Robinson, agreed with Va'inga and said that the consultation meeting was, "an effort to harmonise our aid and to do whatever possible to cut on transaction costs, and to improve our sharing of information."

Craig Hawke also praised the meeting. He said that it was very important for New Zealand to bring its aid under one co-ordinated type of arrangement, for them to understand Tonga...’s need, "economic growth projection and background. Today...’s discussion was about information sharing on our aid programs. There is a possibility for all donors to work under one sector."

During the signing ceremony, Judith also signed an Umbrella Development Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Tonga.

Australia...’s annual aid to Tonga is approximately $A12 million while New Zealand bilateral aid is about $NZ5.6 million.