Results for Economy and Trade

The latest developments in Tonga’s banking business saw the amendment of the Tonga Development Bank Act on September 5, affirming the right of the TDB to continue providing commercial banking activities in the Niuas, and to expand these services to other remote rural areas. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

The Tongan Budget for 2002-3, passed by the Legislative Assembly on June 27, is the biggest ever, with the total revenue to be collected by government amounting to $120.25 million. Government Expenditure during the same period is expected to amount to $122.72 million, leaving us with a deficit of $2.5 million. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.

Tonga hosted this year’s ADFIP consortium on Development Banking Under Change and sought new avenues of technical and financial assistance. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.

On September 25 in the Tongan Legislature, the Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Tevita Tupou, elaborated a new scheme for recovering the Tonga Trust Fund. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

One of the Tongan government’s most adventurous money-making projects, the Tonga Trust Fund is in deep trouble. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

The tragedy in America and the possibility of a long drawn out war between the USA and an enemy, which had yet to be clearly identified, could have a negative impact on the Tongan economy, said Tonga’s Minister of Finance, and the Governor of Tonga National Reserve Bank, Hon. Siosiua ‘Otuikamanu. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

The Tongan economy is expected to remain sluggish during the next financial year 2001/02. The Budget statement of Tonga’s new Minister of Finance, Hon. Sosiua ‘Utoikamanu, presented to parliament on June 5 said there would be no significant economic growth during the new financial year. Instead there will be a slight drop in the growth of GDP, from 4.4% in real terms last year to 3.2% in the new financial year. The Inflation rate is expected to remain at the current peak 8%, after slowly rising from 4.2% in February 2000 and 7.1% in December 2000. These are the highest levels since the early 1990s. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

If by July Tonga has not repealed its 1984 Off-Shore Banking Act, the 29 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will endorse a ‘Defensive Action’ against Tonga and six other Pacific island countries. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

Tonga has all the right ingredients to ride in the unprecedented rising tide of economic growth that was currently being enjoyed by the USA and other countries of the world, the American Ambassador to Tonga, Mr M. Osman Siddique, said at the launching of the Tonga-USA Business Council, at the Dateline Hotel on September 1. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 3, September 2000.