Results for Business

The liquidation of the Royal Tongan Airlines started yesterday, by a five man team led by Richard Agnew from Price Waterhouse Corporation of Auckland, New Zealand.

Tonga's high inflation rate of 12 per cent, is a stumbling block for economic recovery, and a major cause of misery for ordinary Tongans, and urgently needs to be reduced. Martin Cerisola, the leader of an International Monetary Fund delegation, winding-up their annual visit to Tonga on April 2, said that high inflation had the most adverse affect on low income earners. "It affects the poor the most, and I emphasised that inflation should be brought down to a sustainable level.

The Tonga Development Bank will allocate a $2.5 million fund to be made available for loans to squash growers this year, according to the bank's Commercial Loans Manager, Simi Sefanaia.

Tonga’s export market for its treasured yams would increase if Tonga and its main trading partners New Zealand and Australia could agree on ways to eliminate fumigation for this product, say exporters in Nuku‘alofa. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 3, December 2003.

The new Waterfront Lodge was officially opened for business on December 6 in Nukualofa’s seafront Vuna Road. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 3, December 2003.

Tonga’s annual squash exports for Japan could reach 20,000 tonnes, but people in the industry in November were predicting the price will plummet this year to a disappointing low of between 20 and 15 seniti per kilo. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 3, December 2003.

Deep-sea fishing, at the depth of between 500 and 2000 meters could offer a new source of fish for the Tonga Fisheries Industry. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 3, December 2003.

Tricia Emberson the CEO of Tonga’s largest fish exporter, ‘Alatini Fisheries Ltd., who has been operating in Tongan waters for the last 14 years, is a hard core survivor of an industry that has had to ride out the waves of unfavourable weather conditions and export cargo surcharges over the last two years. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 3, December 2003.

Tongan communities realise they need new skills and more income. - Matangi Tonga, Vol. 18, No. 3