Last week, the World Bank presented to Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua, and Honourable Cabinet Ministers on the Country Growth and Jobs Report, outlining opportunities to strengthen private sector engagement as a driver of economic growth and job creation, alongside updates on the World Bank’s ongoing support to Tonga.

The report highlighted key structural challenges, including slow growth, limited productivity and underutilisation of resources; low labour force participation, particularly among youth and women; a constrained private sector; and weaknesses in governance and access to finance, reflecting the priorities identified by the Government and currently being addressed through ongoing policy and reform efforts.

ʻI he uike kuo ʻosi, naʻe fakahoko ai ʻe he Pangike ʻa Mamani ki he ‘Eiki Palemia, Lord Fakafanua mo e kau Minisita ‘o e Kapineti ʻa e Lipooti ʻo e Tupu ʻa e Fonua mo e Ngaue, ʻo fakamatalaʻi ai ʻa e ngaahi faingamalie ke fakamalohia ʻa e fengaueʻaki ʻa e sekitoa taautaha ke fakaʻaiʻai ʻa e tupu fakaʻikonomika mo e fakatupu ‘o ha ngaahi ma’u’angangaue fo’ou, fakataha mo e ngaahi fakamatala fakamuimuitaha ki he hokohoko atu ʻa e ngaahi poupou ʻa e Pangike ʻa Mamani ki Tonga.

Naʻe fakamamafaʻi ʻi he lipoti ni ʻa e ngaahi palopalema mahuʻinga, kau ai ʻa e tuai ‘o e tupu, fakangatangata ʻa e fua mo e siʻisiʻi hono fakaʻaongaʻi ʻo e ngaahi taukei ʻa e kau ngaue, tautautefito ki he toʻutupu mo e kakai fefine; ko ha sekitoa fakataautaha ʻoku fakangatangata; pea mo e ngaahi mata vaivai ʻi he founga fakalele ngaue mo e faingamalie ke maʻu ha paʻanga, ʻa ia ʻoku fakahaaʻi ai ʻa e ngaahi meʻa mahuʻinga kuo ʻosi fakamahinoʻi ʻe he Puleʻanga pea ʻoku lolotonga fakaleleiʻi ʻi he ngaahi tuʻutuʻuni mo e fakalelei ngaue.