TONGA TO BE ASSISTED IN AGRI-FOOD SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION AND SMALL ISLANDS DEVELOPMENT STATES (SIDS) DEVELOPMEMENT LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forests, Lord Fohe received the first courtesy visit of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Pacific, HE Ms Xiangjun Yao at the Ministry’s Headquarters at Nukuálofa.

The Minister for Finance, Hon. Tiofilusi Tiueti is currently attending the Forum Economic Minister's Meeting in Suva, Fiji, and conducting bilateral meetings with development partners. He had the opportunity to meet with Director General Leah Gutierrez, ADB Pacific Department, and Mr. Aaron Batten, ADB Regional Director Pacific Subregional Office discussing the ADB new operating model, the upcoming country programming and projects portfolio review and opportunities to support the private sector and other issues. 

The Minister had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Candra Samekto, Country Director, of Pacific Islands, and the IFAD team. They deliberated on the status of IFAD support through the Tonga Rural Innovation Project (TRIP), and potential areas for support focusing on the agricultural sector and agribusinesses. IFAD team will continue to consult with relevant technical stakeholders to design and develop the next investment programs for Tonga.

The Hon.Minister met with Mr Munkhtuya Altangerel and MR Krishnan Narasimhan, Deputy Programme Manager, United National Capital Development Fund and their team in Suva, Fiji. The Minister congratulated Ms. Altangerel on her new appointment as the United Nation Development Programme Resident Representative.

The Tonga delegation to the Forum Economic Minister’s Meeting met with the United States delegation led by Mr. Robert Kaproth, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for East Asia, discussing the economic and financial outlook concerning Tonga concerning the economic outlook, correspondent banking relationships and climate finance for Tonga. The Tonga delegation was led by the Hon. Tiofilusi Tiueti, Minister for Finance and dialogue between the two countries will continue on same issues.