Results for Business

Most activities have been re-opened so why are bars and kava clubs still restricted? The answer can’t be to ensure that we adhere to social distancing – instead it must be an attempt to regulate the social activities to make sure we stay away from alcohol and kava, an unstated goal of the police and health ministries for years. It might be time to consider the positive side of these businesses as they provide a more healthy outlet for people than drinking in the streets or cars and they pay wages that help keep the economy going. - Dean Bishoprick

Local registered and informal businesses are now able to apply for assistance, under a $16.4 million pa’anga COVID-19 Business Economy Emergency Relief Fund.

Ten Tongans have completed training as coaches to help develop local industries, after undertaking a programme with Tonga Skills.

Blaming manufacturing-job losses on low-wage foreign competition, or, increasingly, on automation has become a staple of populist politics in developed countries. Nowhere is this truer than in the United States, where President Donald Trump campaigned on the issue in 2016 and has since launched a trade war with China. But US workers have long faced another source of competition much closer to home: prison labour.

Thirteen seasonal program workers were awarded a business certificate of completion today, 29 March, at an awards event to support their long-term business goals in Tonga. The four week ‘Your Enterprise Scheme’ business program, is the first to be piloted in Tonga.

"Meet the Pacific", to be held in five European cities from February 22 to March 6 is expected to create greater awareness in the South Pacific Islands region across Europe.

Bank of South Pacific Tonga Ltd. last week opened new sub branches at Ha'apai and ‘Eua with fully Automated Teller Machine (ATMs) installed. BSP Country Head, Daniel Henson said renovations at the Vava'u branch were also opened by the Governor of Vava'u, Lord Fulivai, attended by the Chairman of Bank South Pacific, Sir Kostas Constantinou OBE.

A local sewing program for women has produced 10 successful trainees who received certificates at Tu’atakilangi village on Saturday 9 April.

Tonga Power Ltd. paid its highest dividend to the Government of Tonga, handing over a cheque for $2 million pa'anga on December 8. The 2014-15 dividend represents a 27% increase on the previous year's return to government.