Results for Business

The opportunities for Tongans to get a better paid job in New Zealand and Australia under New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme (RSE) and Australia’s Seasonal Workers’ Program (SWP) has been hailed as a blessing by family members and the government, but at the same time it is regarded as a stumbling block to local Private Sector growth. Local Tongan businesses that can't compete with the overseas pay rates are experiencing shortages of semi skilled and skilled labour. By Pesi Fonua.

The construction of a multi-storey building on the Nuku‘alofa waterfront by a new entity the “Oriental Investment Development Bank” has been quietly proceeding following a ground breaking ceremony on April 4. But according to Tongan regulators, the bank does not hold a licence to operate a bank in Tonga. By Pesi Fonua.

A new Tonga business, Pacific Sunshine Fishing Brisbane has begun importing fish from Tonga to the Queensland market. Tongan entrepreneur, Kristian Palu started the business to offer high-quality fish from Tonga to both Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

A $5 million grant has been approved by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to continue helping Tonga strengthen its fiscal position on June 6. The funds will be released after Tonga adopts prudent policies and better public financial management, aiming to improve Tonga’s business climate with policy, regulator and public enterprise reforms.

The Tongatapu Royal Agriculture, Fisheries and Tourism Trade Show this year will be held a month earlier than usual, on Saturday, June 22, to be followed by the outer islands shows.

Tonga's Energy Minister Hon. Poasi Tei in Beijing, China, recently thanked the Government of China for donating the 2.25 Megawatt wind power station in Tongatapu under the Belt and Road Initiatives. Tonga is one of the 29 global membership of BREP, and the only representative from the Pacific.

The use of new technology to facilitate trade and address food safety was discussed at the International Forum on Food Safety and Trade held on 23-24 April, by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Addis Ababa.

Eight fishing boats donated to Tonga from Dongguan Municipality in China in January this year, were returned when officials discovered, after inspecting the vessels, they were of a low quality and none were up to standard. However, China has provided funds to build the new fishing boats here in Tonga.

A large solar plant is to be built on Tongatapu to start operating by 2020, after a Power Purchase Agreement was signed with Sunergise New Zealand Limited on March 21, in Nuku'alofa. It is to be built over three interconnected sites at Fahefa, Fualu and Liukava.