Tonga: News Releases

ADB has secured $108 million in funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for its climate change projects, shoring up the bank’s efforts to increase its climate financing for the Asia and Pacific region.

Mr. Masayuki Tachiiri has assumed office as Regional Director of ADB's Pacific Subregional Office in Suva.

ADB forecasts economic growth of 1.1% in the Pacific subregion in 2018, down from earlier forecasts due to disaster-related challenges and declines in public spending.

ADB is expanding its presence in 11 Pacific island countries to enhance the impact of its growing program of assistance in the subregion.

Investments in basic services must be complemented by policy and regulatory reforms as well as capacity development to support a shift towards more commercially viable utilities in the Pacific, according to a new ADB report.

ADB's Board of Directors has approved a $6.8 million grant to help reconstruct and improve disaster resilience of the Nuku’alofa electricity network that was damaged by Cyclone Gita in February 2018.

ADB will support over $1 billion in energy investments in the Pacific between 2018–2021, including 19 projects to help countries in the subregion have better access to quality, affordable, and sustainable energy sources.

ADB today signed agreements to help deliver high-speed internet to Kiribati and Nauru through a submarine cable project.

Growth in the Pacific is expected to remain weak in 2018, as economic and political uncertainties, fiscal challenges, and natural disasters hold back some of the region’s larger economies.

ADB is providing an additional $1 million, in the form of a grant, to the Government of Tonga to fund critical, life-saving services following Tropical Cyclone Gita, which caused widespread destruction on 12 February.