Results for Tonga Government

Tonga's government places a top priority on developing solar power in Tongatapu, along with outer islands renewable energy projects, in its new blueprint for infrastructure development over the next five years.

The Tonga government's biggest-ever budget estimate of T$357.6 million for the 2013-14 financial-year was unanimously passed by parliament yesterday evening, 27 June. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Lisiate 'Akolo has launched Tonga's biggest ever national budget amounting to T$357.6 million for the 2013-14 financial year, and expressed concern over low returns to government from public enterprises.

Tonga government officials told a Chinese business delegation that they would review a policy that imposes 15% consumption tax on business investments in Tonga. They also told the potential investors that tourism is "Tonga's most vibrant industry" and that Tonga has fish to give for fishing boats and it will speed up its process of issuing licenses to fish in Tonga's waters.

MASDAR, Abu Dhabi's multifaceted renewable energy company, signed today (18 January) a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga, represented through the Tonga Energy Road Map Implementation Unit (TERM IU). Masdar will be in charge of the implementation and construction of a 500 kW solar photovoltaic power plant to be installed in Vava'u Island. The project, is financed by a grant provided by Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the solar plant will deliver around 13 percent of Tonga's annual electricity demand.

The Final Report of the Constitutional and Electoral Commission on a proposed new system of government for Tonga to be introduced next year was presented to HM King George Tupou V at the Palace, yesterday morning, 5 November 2009.

Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua. Events in Tonga over the past few weeks, have left vacuums in our midst and are reshaping the entities that had the power to influence our lives, our way of thinking, and our style of government.

A peaceful revolution is currently taking place in Tonga as we are trying to find the right combination to take advantage of what the 21st century has to offer. In business, never before have Tongan business people invested so much money in the Tongan economy, pouring millions of pa‘anga, into trade, telecommunications, tourism, agriculture, fisheries, power generation, the media, shipping, and even airlines. By Pesi Fonua. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

This year government cut its Budget to pay for the retirement and holiday travelling of public servants. It was more important for government to keep the 4,500 public servants happy, than to allocate funds to boost exports and to prop up the value of the pa‘anga. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 3, July 1999.