VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSV #0035/01 0301557
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 301557Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0290
INFO RUCPDC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC 0159
RUCPCIM/CIMS NTDB WASHDC

UNCLAS SUVA 000035 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EB/IFD/OIA AND EAP/ANP 
PLEASE PASS TO USTR 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EINV KTBD OPIC USTR TN
SUBJECT: Tonga's Investment Climate Statement 2008 
 
REF: SECSTATE 158802 
 
¶1. Paragraph 2 contains the text of the 2008 Investment Climate 
Statement for Tonga, per reftel. 
 
¶2. Begin text: 
 
Openness to Foreign Investment 
 
The Government of Tonga seeks to be welcoming to business and 
investors. Many Tongans have lived in or visited the United States, 
and American products are readily recognized. 
 
Legislation simplifying foreign investment and streamlining business 
registration procedures came into effect April 1, 2007. Tonga became 
the 151st member of the WTO in June 2007.   The primary tax 
collection method shifted from import duties to a broad-based 
consumption tax in 2005. 
 
In November 2006, a pro-democracy demonstration degenerated into a 
large-scale riot. Rioters destroyed or damaged some 80% of the 
capital's central business district.  Reconstruction has begun, 
aided in part by government secured funds providing low interest 
reconstruction loans. 
 
Tonga's Industrial Incentives Development Scheme, which granted 
incentives and concessions for new projects in the industrial 
sector, was repealed in October 2007. The replacement Customs and 
Excise Regulations 2007, under which all industrial sector inputs 
will be except from customs duties, has yet to enter into force 
 
The Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industries (MLCI) administers 
policy on foreign investment. Every foreign investment business must 
obtain and hold a valid foreign investment registration certificate. 
The foreign investment certificate application fee is about US$50 
and can be obtained upon application to the Secretary of the MLCI. 
The certificate must be renewed annually. 
 
The MLCI also processes company registrations. A company 
incorporated outside the Kingdom of Tonga that wishes to do business 
within the Kingdom must apply for incorporation under Part XVIII of 
the Companies Act 1995. When applying to register as an overseas 
company, a complete application must include the following: 
¶1. Name of the overseas company, which must be reserved on 
prescribed Form 5.  The name reservation fee is about US$37. 
¶2. Full names and residential addresses of company directors & 
company secretary at the time of application 
¶3. The physical address of the place of business in Tonga 
¶4. The full name and residential address of persons in Tonga being 
authorized to accept documents /communications on behalf of the 
overseas company 
¶5. Evidence of incorporation in the country of registration 
¶6. Copy of instrument constituting or defining the constitution of 
the company 
¶7. Copy of notice of reservation of name 
¶8. Application fee of about US$373 
 
Partnerships and sole proprietors do not need to be registered but 
must have a business license. The cost of a business license varies 
according to the type of business activity. Current charges can be 
obtained from MLCI. 
 
Every business or person carrying out a business in Tonga must have 
a valid business license. Business license applications by foreign 
investors must be accompanied by a valid foreign investment 
registration certificate. Applications for business licenses can be 
made to the Business Licensing Officer at the MLCI. Licenses are 
issued annually and expire on December 31 each year. An application 
for a new license costs about US$38 and the annual renewal about 
US$33. 
 
Land cannot be bought or sold in Tonga, but may be leased through 
formal lease arrangements. Leases are usually 50 years in duration, 
although the law permits terms up to 99 years. The government has 
designated areas for small industry development ,known as Small 
Industry Centers (SIC), on the two main islands in the Kingdom. 
Foreign investors are restricted by law from doing business in 
certain sectors.  An updated list of restricted sectors can be 
obtained from the MLCI. 
 
Conversion and Transfer Policies 
 
In order to conserve foreign exchange, the National Reserve Bank of 
Tonga exercises some control on foreign receipts and payments. 
Repatriation of funds, including dividends, profits, capital gains, 
interest on capital and loan repayment and salaries, is permitted, 
with the following exceptions: 
--when an industrial enterprise is partly financed by locally raised 
capital (including working capital), in which case the repatriation 
of funds will be related to the extent of foreign financing; that 
is, repatriation will be regulated on a pro-rata basis; 
 
--in respect of capital gains, the amount eligible for repatriation 
will be restricted to the amount transferred inward through the 
banking system or by other approved methods; and 
 
--expatriate employees will be allowed to remit overseas wages and 
salaries received in Tonga up to the amount on which income tax has 
been paid. 
 
Obtaining foreign exchange is not difficult. 
 
Expropriation and Compensation 
 
Expropriation has not recently been an issue in Tonga. 
 
Dispute Settlement 
 
Tonga has a robust judicial system, staffed at the highest level by 
expatriate judges. The country's legal system is generally capable 
of enforcing contractual rights. Tonga 
does not have a formal bankruptcy law, and there have been no 
high-profile investment disputes over the last five years. Section 
16(1) of the Business Licenses Act states that the provisions of the 
Arbitration Act 1996 of the United Kingdom shall apply to any 
arbitration under the Foreign Investment Act. The Business Licenses 
Act also states that the Convention on the Settlement of Investment 
Disputes shall have the force of law in Tonga, the country having 
ratified the convention on March 21, 1990. 
 
Performance Requirements and Incentives 
 
Investment incentives include: 
 
-- Guaranteed long-term space and land leasing in the Small 
Industries Center, a 12-acre industrial estate, located about one 
kilometer from the center of Nuku'alofa; 
 
-- Residential and work visas for foreign investors and their 
families for as long as the enterprise is in operation; 
 
-- Priority for electricity, telephone, and water connections. 
 
Technical and promotional assistance from the MLCI is available to 
help prospective investors identify, evaluate and set up industries. 
Companies and foreign investors can 
apply for the aforementioned business incentives as soon as they are 
granted business licenses. Once a business license/permit is 
obtained, the business can operate. 
 
The government allows full ownership by a foreign investor in cases 
where manufacturing activities are using imported raw materials for 
export, or where the investments are too large for local investors. 
Each project is considered individually, however, the government 
generally encourages joint ventures. 
 
Right to Private Ownership and Establishment 
 
Both foreigners and domestic investors have equal rights for 
incorporating/establishing entities. The "Foreign Investment Act 
2002," which was implemented on 1 April 2007, categorizes business 
activities for investment purposes into two categories. The Act 
identifies a Reserved List of 13 business activities reserved solely 
for Tongans and a Restricted List of business activities that 
foreigners may invest in under certain conditions. The Business 
Licenses Act 2002, which will also take effect on 1 April 2007, also 
has a Prohibited List. 
 
¶I. Reserved List 
¶1. Taxis 
¶2. Passenger vehicles for hire 
¶3. Used motor vehicle dealers 
¶4. Retailing activity i.e distribution of groceries (food and 
household provisions) for final consumption 
¶5. Wholesaling activity 
¶6. Baking of white loaf bread 
¶7. Tongan cultural activities, including: 
      i. folktales, folk poetry, and folk riddles 
      ii. folk songs and instrumental folk music 
      iii. folk dances and folk plays 
iv. production of folk arts in particular, drawings, paintings 
carvings, sculptures, woodwork, jewelry, handicrafts, costumes and 
indigenous textile 
¶8. Raising of chicken for the production of eggs 
¶9. Security business 
¶10. Export of green and mature coconuts 
¶11. Wiring and installation of residential and commercial buildings 
with capital investment of less than $500,000. 
¶12. Production/farming of: 
i. root crops (yams, sweet yam, taro, sweet potato, cassava); 
      ii. squash; 
      iii. paper mulberry; 
      iv. pandanus; and 
      v. kava 
¶13. Fishing activities comprising: 
      i. reef fishing 
ii. inshore fishing within 12 nm(Zone C) in water less than 1000 
meters 
      iii. bottom fishing in water depth less than 500m 
 
II. Restricted List 
The Restricted List specifies the business activities that a foreign 
investment business may carry out in Tonga subject to the conditions 
specified by the Regulations. 
 
¶1. Commercial fishing comprising tuna fishing, bottom 
fishing in water deeper than 500m, other deep water fishing, and 
aquaculture. 
¶2. Agricultural supply stores distributing seeds, fertilizers, 
chemicals. 
¶3. Educational facilities 
¶4. Medical or health facilities 
 
III. Prohibited Activities (under the Business Licences Act) 
¶1. Storage, disposal or transport of nuclear or toxic waste. 
¶2. Pornography. 
¶3. Export, import or production of any products that are prohibitied 
under the laws of Tonga. 
¶4. Prostitution. 
¶5. Processing or export of endangered species. 
¶6. Production of weapons of warfare. 
 
Corporatization/Privatization of State-Owned Enterprises 
 
A key aim of the government's economic reform program is to 
corporatize and eventually privatize the agencies that perform 
non-core government functions. 
 
Protection of Property Rights 
 
Tonga has legislation protecting patents, utility models, designs 
and trade marks., A bill on enforcement and border measures has been 
endorsed by the cabinet and is currently under consideration. This 
legislation aligns Tonga's laws with its WTO obligations and 
contains stricter border controls for counterfeit products. 
Currently, counterfeit products are widely available on the local 
market. 
 
Transparency of Regulatory System 
 
Although there are some difficulties with setting up a business, the 
Government has instituted reforms to make the procedures and 
processes much easier and quicker for investors. The World Bank 
lists Tonga as the 47th easiest country to do business in 
worldwide. 
 
Publishing of draft bills for public comments is not practiced in 
Tonga. 
 
Efficient Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment 
 
Foreign investors are generally able to obtain credit on the local 
market. The Tonga Development Bank (TDB), with assets totaling 
T$58,688,399 (2006), finances development projects that meet the 
TDB's criteria. In December, 2006 the TDB had a private sector loan 
portfolio of T$39 million. There are also three international 
commercial banks, which together had T$189.9 million in domestic 
private sector loans outstanding in June 2005. 
 
Political Violence 
 
In November 2006, political protests degenerated into a large-scale 
riot. Numerous buildings were attacked, looted and burned. Rioters 
particularly targeted businesses associated with the royal family 
and businesses owned by ethnic Chinese and Indians. Approximately 
80% of Nuku'alofa's central business district was destroyed or 
significantly damaged. Violence on this scale is unprecedented, 
previous incidents being limited to isolated cases of vandalism and 
arson directed typically at symbols of government. 
 
Subsequent to the November disturbances, the government declared a 
state of emergency, empowering the Tonga Defence Services to restore 
law and order within 24 hours of the events. Trials of the 
perpetrators and those accused of incitement are under way. The 
state of emergency has been repeatedly extended, most recently in 
December 2007 for another 30-day period. Total damages are estimated 
to be about US$62 million. Businesses have begun reconstruction, 
aided in part by funds obtained by Tonga's government and used to 
provide low interest loans for reconstruction. 
 
Corruption 
 
Corruption has not been specifically identified as an obstacle to 
foreign investment. Corruption and bribery are criminalized and 
prosecuted. In a high-profile case in 2006, the Speaker of the 
Tongan Parliament was convicted and fined for bribery relating to 
the import of alcohol. Such measures appear to be impartially 
applied. 
 
In July, the parliament passed legislation establishing an 
anti-corruption commissioner charged with investigating official 
corruption. There are no international non-governmental "watchdog" 
organizations represented locally, and the country is not included 
on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index. 
 
Bilateral Investment Agreements 
 
Tonga is party to a bilateral investment treaty with the United 
Kingdom.  It is not party to any other bilateral investment 
treaties. 
 
OPIC and Other Investment Insurance Programs 
 
Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) insurance is 
available to investors in Tonga, and OPIC provides political risk 
insurance, finance, direct loans and loan 
Guarantees., 
 
Labor 
 
Although unemployment was officially placed at 5.2 percent in 2003, 
this does not account for the significant number of people 
underemployed. More than half of the men, and 38 percent of all 
people employed, work in the agricultural, forestry and fishing 
sectors. Only 59 percent of households include one or more wage 
earner. Women are playing an increasing role in the formal wage 
sector and make up more than one-third of the workforce. 
 
Wages and salaries are comparatively low. Wages, salaries and other 
conditions of work in the private sector are a matter of direct 
negotiation between employers and workers. 
There are currently no trade unions in Tonga, although there is 
legislation permitting unions to form. The Public Servants 
Association operates as a de facto trade union for civil servants. 
 
Local skilled labor is available in sufficient quantities to 
undertake most types of building work, except for some specialized 
skills and supervisory-level manpower, which is 
generally recruited from abroad. 
 
Foreign-Trade Zones/Free Ports 
 
Tonga does not operate any foreign trade zones or free port 
facilities. 
 
Foreign Direct Investment Statistics 
 
In its 2007 World Investment Report, the UN Conference on Trade and 
Development (UNCTAD) estimated 2006, foreign direct investment in 
Tonga sourced from transnational corporations to be US$51 million, 
equal to 22.6 per cent of GDP.  The inward flow of foreign direct 
investment for 2005 was approximately US$17 million, up from 
approximately US$5 million in 2004. 
 
The U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis records 
no U.S.- sourced FDI stocks for Tonga. 
 
According to the MLCI, over 150 foreign companies are currently 
registered in Tonga. Foreign businesses are largely in the retail 
sector, and many are owned by ethnic Chinese and Indians. 
 
Web Resources 
 
Regulatory authorities 
 
Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industries, P.O. Box 110, 
Nuku'alofa, Tonga.  Tel: (676) 23 688; www.mlci.gov.to; 
 
Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Nuku'alofa, Tonga. 
Tel:  (676) 23 066; www.revenue.gov.to 
Banks 
 
National Reserve Bank of Tonga, Private Bag #25, Nuku'alofa, Tonga. 
Tel (676) 24-057; www.reservebank.gov.to 
 
Tonga Development Bank, Hala Fatafehi, Nuku'alofa, Tonga.  Tel: 
(676) 23 333; Email: tdevbank@tdb.to; www.tdb.to 
 
DINGER