Results for Business

The Business Link Pacific’s (BLP) support grants scheme was launched by the Tonga Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. and the New Zealand Government on 10 July, in Nuku’alofa Tonga.

Development of trade in fresh watermelons from Tonga to New Zealand is being supported by the Tonga Watermelon Export Taskforce (TWET) and the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus (PHAMA Plus) program, through training and skills development conducted in June on Tongatapu.

Tongatapu's Royal Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism and Trade Show enjoyed sunshine, on Saturday June 10, after a few days of rain had muddied the Manamo’ui Showgrounds. King Tupou VI presented the awards for the best in each category.

Soil samples taken after the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai volcanic eruption and tsunamis showed that seawater had directly impacted soil salinity and crop growth in the Kanokupolu area on western Tongatapu and by September 2022 the salt had moved down to the subsoil. Local soil scientist, Dr. Halavatau told researchers that the impact on the soil remained a concern due to the salt changing its structural stability.

The Royal Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism and Trade Show for Tongatapu scheduled for this weekend has been postponed until 10 June, and the 'Eua show is postponed until 17 June, in respect of the passing of HRH Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu. Her funeral is to be held in Tonga soon.

A ‘Save our Seeds’ training was held for farmers and agricultural representatives this week in the launch of a 'Pacific Seeds for Life' program that aims at achieving food security in Tonga.

Two engineers from Tonga Power Ltd. completed a regional training on Hybrid Power Generation System in Fiji.

Growth in Tonga’s economy is projected to reach 2.5% in 2023 expanding further to 3.2% in 2024, according to the latest edition of the Asian Development Bank's economic report presented in Nuku'alofa today, 13 April. ADB Public Sector Economist, James Webb said, like its South Pacific neighbours, Tonga has faced an immensely difficult past three-years. Inflation is forecast to accelerate to 9.4% this year, with remittances providing some potential relief to households.

A 10-MW wave power park for Tongatapu is expected to be developed by Dublin-based wave energy technology firm, Seabased Group, and ready for commissioning within 24-months, it was announced in New York last week. Tonga's Minister for Internal Affairs, Lord Vaea of Houma, said the technology can capture the energy generated from the waves coming to the shores of Tongatapu and turn that into electricity - meeting more than fifty percent of Tonga’s electricity needs.