US$2 million in concessional financing approved by the World Bank on 16 March will support Tonga’s efforts to create "a more inclusive and resilient economy" through policy reform. It is to be funded with US$1 million credit and US$1 million grant, provided through the International Development Association, the World Bank's fund for poorest countries.
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Results for Economy and Trade
Wednesday 23 March 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Thursday 17 March 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A two-day private sector consultation is being held this week on March 17-18 in Nuku'alofa, to discuss the potential implications of the Regional Pacer Plus Agreement (PACER Plus) on Tonga’s private sector, following the closing of previous consultations hosted by Tonga's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry with representatives from the private sector and the Office of the Chief Trade Adviser (OCTA).

Monday 14 March 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga has been warned that despite government’s strong revenue collection, Tonga’s fiscal position is expected to weaken in near term due to a large increase in the wage bill, an increase in current spending, and potential cost overruns related to Tonga’s preparations to host the 2019 South Pacific Games

Monday 7 March 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga is looking to lift labour standards by becoming the 187th member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) this year, effective from 24 February 2016.

Wednesday 2 December 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A waning commitment by the Tongan government to reform has caused delays in grants for budget support and raises concerns regarding long-term fiscal sustainability, the Asian Development Bank warns in the December 2015 issue of the Pacific Economic Monitor - Budget Analysis. Tonga's budget plans for FY2016 will see another large increase in public spending.

Saturday 21 November 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s controversial Foreign Exchange Levy Act 2015 has been suspended, according to Press Statement released by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning yesterday, 20 November.

Thursday 12 November 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A two-days workshop on Emerging Global and Regional Trade Issues for the Commonwealth Pacific Region began at the Scenic Hotel, Pelehake, Tongatapu this morning 12 November.

Tuesday 10 November 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The implementation of the government’s controversial 1% Foreign Exchange Levy has been deferred again for a “few weeks”, stated the Minister of Finance, Hon. ‘Aisake Eke in a letter, dated 6 November, circulated to general managers of financial institutions in Nuku’alofa.

Monday 9 November 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga has accumulated a Foreign Reserve of $311.7 million pa’anga at the end of September, while its domestic inflation rate was 3.2% for September, according to the latest figures on the National Reserve Bank of Tonga website.

Wednesday 4 November 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Foreign Exchange Levy Act 2015 that was originally scheduled to be implemented on 21 October, finally came into force yesterday, November 3, allowing government to collect one seniti from the banks on every pa'anga sold or purchased in foreign exchange transactions.

Wednesday 28 October 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s new Foreign Exchange Levy Act 2015 that came into force on Wednesday last week has disrupted the movement of foreign exchange in and out of the country, as bankers do not know how to apply it.

Friday 23 October 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga and Forum Island Countries (FIC) will benefit from enhanced regional trade and economic integration under the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus Agreement, with Australia and New Zealand.

Sunday 27 September 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s future is not on land but in its marine area on the continental shelf, and “we want to help Tonga tap into the Blue Economy,” said Deodat Maharaj, the Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, during his one-day stop over in Tonga on 15 September. By Pesi Fonua

Sunday 9 August 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Government does not have an investigation project to find out if Tonga civil servants are considered unpaid, the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr ‘Aisake Eke said. “There is no investigation, but a review of the salary structure,” he said in a statement on August 7.

Thursday 6 August 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga government plans to spend allegedly $2.2 million USD (around $4.6 million pa'anga) on an investigation project to find out if Tongan civil servants are over-paid or under-paid.

Monday 3 August 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A proposal for government to finance the 2019 Pacific Games with Consumption Tax, instead of a levy on profit from foreign currency exchange transactions was presented by Bernie Poort from the ANZ Bank and Dan Henson from the Bank of the South Pacific to the Minister of Finance, Hon. ‘Aisake Eke during a Tonga Chamber of Commerce special meeting on Friday, 31 July.

Monday 29 June 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga new currency notes and coins were launched by HM King Tupou VI this morning, 29 June, at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre.

Wednesday 15 April 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The World Bank has warned Tonga of large fiscal risks which are lurking in the horizon, “the repayment of its two external loans, the financing of the 2019 South Pacific Games, and the periodic large public servant wage demands.”

Wednesday 25 February 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Tonga government review has stated that Tonga has fallen behind in three Millennium Development Goals: poverty eradication, gender equality and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which are at a “crisis level”.

Thursday 19 February 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's over all Public Debt at the end of January 2015 stood at $392.6 million pa‘anga or 48.4% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to financial statistics released by the Ministry of Finance this week.
