The Former Prime Minister for Tonga

The Deputy Governor for the Reserve Bank of Tonga, Ms Ugatea Latu

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Lord Fakafanua

The CEO of Ministry of Agriculture Viliami Manu

The CEO of Ministry of Customs & Revenue Michael Cokanasiga

Tonga Ministry of Tourism

President of Tonga Chamber of Commerce Sam Vea

President of Tonga Tourism Association Siosaia Moehau

Chairlady of Tonga Tourism Authority Mishka Tuifua

CEO of Ministry of Trade & Economic Development Distaquaine Tuihalamaka

Investment Fiji Board Director Tanya Waqanika,

Investment Fiji Chief Executive Officer, Kamal Chetty,

Business Representatives from Fiji and Tonga,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Ni sa bula vinaka and Malo e lelei

It is an honour and privilege to be standing before you today to officially open the Fiji-Tonga Business Forum 2025, an event that speaks to the shared aspirations, enhanced collaboration and growing cooperation between the Kingdom of Tonga and Fiji.

This mission is facilitated by Investment Fiji in collaboration with the Ministry, representing a key milestone in our economic diplomacy.

It reflects the Fiji Government’s unwavering commitment to deepen bilateral ties, stimulate private sector engagement, and support inclusive economic development across our region.

Let me begin by acknowledging the warm hospitality extended to the Fijian delegation since our arrival.

I commend my appreciation to the Government of Tonga, the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Tourism in Tonga and all the dedicated officials who have worked hard behind the scenes to make this Forum possible.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Fiji and Tonga are no strangers to each other as we share a long-standing history of trade, political  and cultural biological kinship that is reflected most apparently within the customs and ways of the people of Fiji who inhabit our Eastern parts of the Islands - that is the Islands of Lau.

Our presence here today is simply  deepening that strong cultural relationship leveraged over the years into the growing economic relationship it is today. In 2024, Fiji’s total exports to Tonga reached over FJ$161 million, reinforcing Tonga’s position as our largest export destination in the Pacific.

The Fiji Government is proud of this achievement however we recognize that trade is not static and it requires effort, consistency, and mutual benefit to remain relevant and sustainable.

Economic progress cannot be taken for granted as it must be nurtured through dialogue, innovation, and action. That is why we are here.

With this Business Mission, we aim to identify new avenues for trade and investment to promote business partnerships and unlock the economic potential that exists between our nations.

We have set ourselves an ambitious yet achievable target, that is to increase Fiji’s share of Tonga’s total imports from the current 27% to 35% over the next three years.

This equates to an estimated export value of FJ$215million by 2027, making our two way trade significantly more.

Fiji also stands ready and invites Tongan businesses to leverage this forum to explore opportunities to export into Fiji, tapping into our large and growing consumer market.

Whether it’s premium seafood, agricultural products, or niche manufactured goods, Fiji is open for trade — and open to doing more business with Tonga.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Fiji currently supplies only 36.6% of Tonga’s raw sugar imports. With Tonga importing over FJ$3.7 million worth of sugar annually, this represents a significant opportunity for our sugar producers and exporters.

The sugar industry in Fiji is more focused on sustainable approaches in recent years and we are well-positioned to meet the demand reliably and competitively.

Fiji is already a trusted supplier of consumer goods such as flour, biscuits, instant noodles, eggs and canned food.

Many of these items are not only price competitive, but produced under internationally recognized food safety standards as they are ready to scale in Tonga's market.

Our manufacturing sector has developed capabilities in areas such as paints, varnishes, plastics, and beverages, and we see strong potential for these goods in Tonga’s growing construction, retail, and hospitality sectors.

Beyond goods and services, trade presents enormous opportunities.

Fiji offers technical expertise in digital technology, education, training, environmental solutions, and business compliance services.

Companies such as Paradise Technologies, represented here today, are at the forefront of delivering innovative energy-efficient solutions across the Pacific. Specializing in advanced lighting technologies, that can serve the needs of Pacific governments and industries alike.

In the tourism sector, Fiji is eager to explore synergies with Tonga to co-market travel experiences and facilitate multi-destination packages that promote inter-island connectivity. Stronger aviation and maritime links will not only support tourism, but also logistics, business travel, and cultural exchange.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Trade alone is not enough. For our economies to thrive in the 21st century, we must build resilience, support innovation, and create inclusive pathways for growth.

That means empowering our micro, small, and medium enterprises — the heart of our Pacific economies.  In my capacity, my Ministry is charged to empower our entrepreneurs whether they are Micro, Small and Medium enterprises and Co-operatives to grow and prosper. We have seen many MSMEs and Co-operative becoming innovators and embedding operational efficiency and surely our MSMEs and Co-operatives can work with your MSMEs and Co-operatives to prosper.

Fiji, through my portfolio, has been developing the MSME Strategic Plan that is being validated this week and during consultations, we have found numerous challenges such as market access, access to finance, bureaucratic processes and poor coordination amongst agencies. That is why, through our Strategic Plan we embark on strategically positioning ourselves to address these challenges. There is no doubt that Fiji and Tonga can share possible solutions and unlock opportunities for  each other and for the Pacific as a whole.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On the ICT front, there is so much potential to unlock, and I am dedicated to develop this as we move forward.

The Digital Economy in this day and age has become profound to our trading landscape. We have recently launched the National Digital Strategy and the National e-commerce Strategy which aims to capitalize on the rapid development opportunities of ICT in the Pacific. Now more than ever, trade will be possible not only between businesses in the region but also its people.

Tonga, as one of Fiji’s closest neighbours, can first hand benefit from Fiji’s position as a major ICT hub in the region and access its ICT companies and professionals in driving digital transformation in Tonga.

Connectivity is the major pathway to the digital economy and Fiji is pushing to ensure we can connect as many people as possible. The critical nature of connectivity was amplified when Tonga’s international cable was severed a few years back and both our countries' close relationship allowed a Starlink Ground station to be set up in Fiji to provideemergency connectivity to Tonga. This paved the pathway for the licensing ofStarlink in Fiji which has been ground breaking in terms of rural and maritimeconnectivity and with new investments like Google’s subsea cable into Fiji,there may be potential to provide more redundancy opportunities in the future.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In closing, I would also like to take this opportunity to mention the importance of institutional cooperation.

Many of the Fijian companies represented here today in this mission are home-grown, family-led businesses that have scaled up through hard work and government support.

Government-to-Government dialogue is essential to addressing barriers to trade, harmonizing standards, and creating an enabling environment for business.

We are particularly encouraged by ongoing discussions around the establishment of a Tongan High Commission in Suva as this would only enhance the cultural, socio-political, diplomatic and economic ties between the Kingdom of Tonga and Fiji.

We also recognize the work of regional institutions like the Pacific Islands Forum, Pacific Community (SPC), and Pacific Island Forum Secretariat in fostering economic integration and resilience.

Let us continue to use these platforms to advocate for our collective interests, whether in securing climate finance, improving regional connectivity, or strengthening our position in global markets.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Here in this B2B Networking Event, we have the presence of Fiji’s private sector delegates such as Punjas, Goodman Fielder, Tropik Woods, Ashabhai, Paradise Technologies, Vinod Patel, Rooster Poultry, Juice Fiji, Food Processors Limited and Propharma Pte Limited.

Their presence is symbolic of the depth of innovation, ambition and economic drive that is ever present within our Pacific shores and I urge the Fiji and Tonga business representatives to use this forum to network, negotiate, and collaborate on ways our countries can leverage this ambition for strategic wins for the both of us.

Whether you are here to explore distributorships, form joint ventures, or identify sourcing opportunities, let this B2B Networking event lead to discussions that bear tangible benefits.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Before I conclude, I would like to emphasise that the Pacific is at a crossroads.

We face climate vulnerability, global economic shifts, and geopolitical competition. However, we are uniquely positioned with a resilient yet dynamic population, a strong sense of community, and abundant natural and cultural resources.

Fiji and Tonga can be leaders in building a Blue Pacific Economy, one that is inclusive and driven by Pacific people, Pacific solutions, and Pacific pride.

Vinaka vakalevu. Malo ‘aupito.

Thank you, and I wish you all the best during this Business Mission.

‍