Tuesday 28, October 2025
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
Suspension of TAL CEO Brings Airport Dispute to a Head
In the end, it wasn’t a jetliner that grounded operations at Fu’amotu airport; it was politics. The sudden suspension of ...
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BUSINESS
China Opens Belt and Road Media Forum With Calls for Greater Co-operation
The Media Co-operation Forum on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) opened today in Kunming, China, with more than 200 ...
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BUSINESS
Fangaʻuta Lagoon Bridge Contract Finally Signed After Months of Delays
After months of on-again, off-again negotiations, Tonga’s long-anticipated lagoon bridge project has taken a decisive step forward. The Deputy Prime ...
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BUSINESS
Commentary | Beyond GDP Why Economic Growth Alone Cannot Secure Wellbeing
As debt, rising costs and mental health pressures strain households worldwide, Tonga’s heavy reliance on remittances shows why growth figures ...
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BUSINESS
Tonga Ends Bundle Sales: Fruits and Vegetables to be Weighed by the Kilo
For generations, Tongan households have bought produce in bundles at the roadside and markets. That system is now changing, with ...
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BUSINESS
‘Trust Is More Important Than Money’: Inside One Chinese Businessman’s Vision for Tonga
Chinese restaurateur Dave Wu shares why he chose Tonga, how Chinese businesses operate, and why he believes trust and cooperation ...
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BUSINESS
Global Economic Storms and the Pacific’s Fragile Shield: Why Tonga Needs a Survive Pact for the Future
After weeks of market turmoil, headlines around the globe have painted a grim picture — words like “bloodbath,” “carnage,” and ...
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BUSINESS
Pacific trade deals: hype versus reality
New Zealand’s government (and others) often tout Pacific trade initiatives as a win‑win. For example, NZ Trade Minister Nicola Grigg ...
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BUSINESS
Relief for Struggling Families: TPL Cuts Power Costs for Low-Usage Homes
By Tuʻifua Vailena | Nukuʻalofa, 30 June 2025 From tomorrow, thousands of Tongan households will pay less for electricity—a welcome ...
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BUSINESS
State-Owned Enterprises Underperform: Is It Time for Accountability and Reform?
By Staff, Financial Correspondent Tonga’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are showing troubling signs of financial inefficiency and weak returns, based on ...
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BUSINESS
Sunair in Talks to Invest in Tonga’s Lulutai Airlines
Nuku’alofa, Tonga – 18 June 2025 Lulutai Airlines may soon see a major shift in its future operations, as the ...
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BUSINESS
Tonga’s Budget Meets Global Headwinds: Can Local Optimism Withstand a Global Slowdown?
Tonga has just unveiled its FY2025/26 budget, a confident and forward-leaning document grounded in themes of national resilience, infrastructure renewal, ...
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BUSINESS
Safe, Affordable Financial Services for Rural Communities and People with Disabilities
By Tu’ifua Vailena, Tonga Independent News Nukuʻalofa, – Tonga recently hosted a significant regional financial summit, welcoming central bank governors and ...
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BUSINESS
Fuel Prices Drop Again in Tongatapu: A Welcome Relief as Cost of Living Pressures Mount
By Tonga Independent News | 29 May 2025 The government has released its latest fuel price schedule for June 2025, ...
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BUSINESS
Digital Gateway Opens Global Markets for Tongan SMEs
NUKUʻALOFA, 26 May 2025 — A new partnership between ANZ Tonga and the Palladium Group is set to transform the landscape ...
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BUSINESS
Tonga’s Economy: Reserve Bank report for February 2025
Tonga’s economy enjoyed a festive lift during the 2024 Christmas season, with businesses buzzing and overseas family support flowing in ...
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BUSINESS
Australia Commits Historic AUD85 Million to Support Tonga’s Economic Stability
Nuku’alofa, 26 March 2025 – Tonga’s recent National Development Summit concluded with clear calls from international donors and development partners ...
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BUSINESS
Pacific Aviation Sector Strives for Global Parity Amid Workforce and Funding Constraints
SUVA, 20/03/2025 – The Pacific aviation sector continues to battle against significant structural and capacity challenges, with the shortage of ...
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BUSINESS
Commentary: Unlocking Tonga’s Financial Future: How ADB’s Local Currency Bond Initiative Can Boost Economic Resilience
This week, Tonga’s National Development Summit featured a compelling presentation by Deepika Darshani, a Treasury Specialist from the Asian Development ...
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BUSINESS
Numbers Without Accountability: Can Tonga Rely on the 2023 Labour Force Survey?
In a nation like Tonga, where economic resilience and development hinge on effective policymaking, the availability of credible data is ...
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BUSINESS
Australia Strikes Deal with ANZ to Boost Pacific Banking, Counter China’s Growing Influence
Australia is finalizing an agreement with ANZ Group to retain the bank’s Pacific branches, a strategic move designed to support ...
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BUSINESS
Tonga Power Limited (TPL): A Struggle for Stability Amidst Management Challenges and Public Dissatisfaction
Tonga Power Limited (TPL) has been at the centre of public frustration due to a series of management struggles, service ...
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BUSINESS
Opinion: Tonga’s Reliance on External Aid Under Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni – A Missed Opportunity for Economic Self-Sufficiency?
During Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni’s tenure, Tonga faced some of the most challenging crises in recent memory: the devastating Hunga ...
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BUSINESS
National Reserve Bank vs Tonga Development Bank: A Tale of Two Banks
In a developing legal standoff between Tonga’s key financial institutions, the Tonga Development Bank (TDB) has sought an injunction against ...
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BUSINESS
Tonga Remains Top Kava Exporter to Australia: DFAT Report
Tonga has maintained its position as the largest exporter of Kava into Australia, as revealed by the latest findings from ...
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BUSINESS
What International Visitors think of Tonga
The recent report on International Visitors to Tonga, released by the Tonga Statistics Department, presents some intriguing findings. This is ...
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BUSINESS
Safety Concerns Ground Lulutai Airlines’ Twin Otter, Leaving Tongan Passengers Stranded
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BUSINESS
Lulutai Airlines Scrambles for Replacement Aircraft After Saab 340B Collision with Cement Block at Fua’amotu Airport
Nuku’alofa – In a startling turn of events, Lulutai Airlines is urgently seeking a leased aircraft to maintain its vital ...
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BUSINESS
Emergency Landing at Fua’amotu: Lulutai Airlines Faces Technical Woes
In a dramatic turn of events, Tonga’s sole local airline, Lulutai, was forced to divert its flight to Vava’u and ...
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BUSINESS
National Reserve Bank of Tonga Takes Swift Action Against Unlicensed Investment Entity
In a decisive move, the National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) has cracked down on an entity operating under the ...
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BUSINESS
IMF Report Highlights Strong Economy and Challenges
Washington, DC – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has wrapped up its Article IV consultation with Tonga, endorsing the staff ...
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BUSINESS
Financial Turbulence Unfolds as Tonga Development Bank’s CEO Faces Controversy Over Cost Low Deal
Cost Low Company Limited has filed an application Notice for Injunction on a Mortgage Notice issued by Tonga Development Bank. ...
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BUSINESS
Lower inflation remains priority for the Reserve Bank
The Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) has decided to focus on two main goals in ...
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BUSINESS
‘0si tau e fakatau twin otter Lulutai USD$6.25m pe ko e TOP $15m, palani lisi mo e vaka (ATR) he ta’u fo’ou
Kuo fakahaa faka’ofisiale ‘e he CEO ‘o e Lulutai Poasi Tei ki he ongoongo ni, kuo ‘osi tau mo fakahoko ...
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BUSINESS
“Bitcoin Trading Transforms Business Landscape in Tonga: Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities”
The Bitcoin trading model is increasingly being embraced globally, even in smaller nations like the island country of Tonga. This ...
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BUSINESS
Auckland Welcomes Tongan Workers: Fulton Hogan and Community Join Forces in Post-Disaster Recovery and Empowerment
It was a cold morning in Auckland as we gathered to warmly welcome the new workers recruited from Tonga to ...
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BUSINESS
Tonga Power Chairman welcomes Royal Commission
One of the major issues currently in discussion and has been for a while now, is the public outcry due ...
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BUSINESS
Lotopoha Export Trading Company to Construct Packhouse Facility in Partnership with PHAMA Plus
Lotopoha Export Trading, the prominent Tongan export enterprise, has declared its collaboration with the PHAMA Plus to build a multi-purpose ...
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BUSINESS
Billfish owner and family terrorised by Police brutality
The owner and operator of Billfish Bar and Restaurant, Robert Sullivan, was jailed overnight on Saturday due to a miscommunication ...
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