Results for Business

Is Tonga ready to become a member of the World Trade Organisation? The Tongan Minister responsible for Trade, Hon. Dr Masaso Paunga, is confident that Tonga has done all the right things by signing the appropriate international conventions, and free trade agreements, and that Tonga is now ready to become a member of the WTO sometime next year. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

‘Alatini Fisheries Co. Ltd .is planning to open before Christmas a new speciality food shop on Taufa‘ahau Road, Nuku‘alofa, specialising in fresh, chilled and frozen foods. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

If you believe enough in yourself you can do anything, says 29-year-old ‘Alo Fe‘iloakitau, who set up his own business when he was only 25. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

Tens of millions of pa‘anga in government expenditure that used to be disregarded in the annual Budget estimates, have this year been incorporated into the figures—beefing it up to $112 million in operational costs. This is a new approach by a new Finance Minister, Siosiua ‘Utoikamanu, to make government operations more “transparent”. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.

When a new mobile phone provider, Tonfön (Shoreline Communications) launched its telephone service on July 31, Tonga became the only Pacific island country to allow two competing telecommunications companies. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.

The Informal sector of the Tongan business community is the biggest enemy of the struggling Tongan economy, believes the Vava’u no. 1 People’s Representative, Trevor Guttenbeil. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.

Tonga’s 28 year old Bank of Tonga was renamed Westpac-Bank of Tonga after the Tongan Parliament amended the Bank of Tonga Act on July 15. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.

The quarry business, particularly on Tongatapu, is a thriving but very competitive business according to Sione Tafolo of the Fasi‘apule Holding Ltd. who says that it is an on-going task for people who live in the low-lying areas to keep filling up their properties. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.

A Tongan-owned immigration consultancy, started in 1995, has helped over 5,000 Tongans gain legal status in New Zealand. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.