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EXCHANGE RATE & INFLATION
• Currency - Pa’anga
• Excahange Rate (selling rate US$ = 0.5219 —–25/03/2008)
Source: Westpac Bank of Tonga,
P.O.Box 924,
Nuku’alofa,
TONGA.
Ph: (676) 23 933
Fax: (676) 24 218
Email: bot-gm@kalianet.to
• Average annual rate of inflation
* year = 2007
* rate = 5.9%
• Inflation rate as of January, 2008 = 10.5%
For further information please contact:
Statistics Department,
P.O.Box 149, Nuku’alofa,
TONGA. Ph: (676) 23 300,
Fax: (676) 24 303,
Email: dept@stats.gov.to
Website: www.spc.int-prism/country/to/stats
LABOR FORCE CONDITIONS
Average wage rate (US$ per day)
Managerial USD 13.06
Supervisory USD 8.55
Skilled USD 7.53
Semi-skilled USD 5.58
Unskilled USD 5.08
• Normal number of working hours per week = 40 hours
• Number of paid holidays per annum = 11 days
Please note that the above rates are not monitored. The Ministry is currently working at drafting Tonga’s first Employment Bill. The given information is basically the rates used by Government and is provided here as a guide for the labor rates conditions in Tonga.
PUBLIC UTILITY RATES (Commercial)
ELECTRICITY
Tariff per kilowatt-hour 86 cents
Connection fee $23 Pa’anga
Installation fee depend on the installation requirements
For further details please contact:
Mr. Ian Skelton,
Shoreline Power Manager,
Email: iskelton@tonfon.to
Ph: (676) 878 6053,
Fax: (676) 25 589,
Website: www.tonfon.to
WATER
Connection fee $10.00 pa’anga
Installation fee Call 23 299 ext.#19 (Romney) depend on distance and other factors
Minimum charge $5 pa’anga per month
Water pressure average minimum – 5 meters
Cost per liter $1.90 per mega litre – Nuku’alofa
$1.94 per mega litre – Vava’u
$1.92 per mega litre – Ha’apai
For further details please contact:
Mr. Saimone Helu,
General Manager,
Email: helutwb@kalianet.to,
Ph: (676) 23 299,
Fax: (676) 23 518
TELEPHONE:
Please contact the following companies for all your Telecommunications needs:
Tonga Telecommunications Corporation
Ph: (676) 26 700,
Fax: (676) 26 701
Email: info@kalianet.to,
Website: www.tcc.to
INTERNET
Please contact the following companies for all your Telecommunications needs:
1. Tonga Telecommunications Corporation
Ph: (676) 26 700,
Fax: (676) 26 701
Email: info@kalianet.to,
Website: www.tcc.to
2. Tonfon (Shoreline Group of Companies)
Website: www.tonfon.to
TRANSPORTATION COSTS (International)
a) Sea Freight minimum rates
Australia – AUD$3,037.50 per container (20`)
New Zealand – NZD$3,021.90 per container (20`)
Fiji – USD877.50 per container (20`)
USA & Europe – USD$3,500 per container (20`)
Asia – USD$4,050.00 (reefer)
For further information please contact:
i. Dateline/Transam Shipping Ltd
Fakafanua Building, Ma’ufanga.
Ph: (676) 24 470 Fax: (676) 23 993
Email: shipping@dateline.to
shipping@kalianet.to
website: www.dateline.to
ii. Pacific Forum Line Tonga
Fakafanua Building, Ma’ufanga.
Suite 1-5 South Building
Ph: (676) 23 012 / 24 804, Fax: (676) 24 345
Email: enquiries@forumshipping.to , Website: www.pflnz.co.nz
b) Air Freight minimum rates
1 – 2kgs - $20
3 – 5kgs - $40
6 – 10kgs - $50
11 – 15kgs - $55
16 – 25kgs - $80
26 – 30kgs - $90
Weight (kg) – freight per kg
31+ - $2.00
45+ - $1.80
100+ - $1.60
Contact details:
i. Air New Zealand
Private Bag 4
Nuku’alofa, TONGA.
Ph: (676) 23 828 / 32 221 Fax: (676) 23 447 Email: nzcargo@forumtravel.net
ii. DHL Courier:
P.O.Box 41
Wellington Rd.
Nuku’alofa, TONGA.
Ph: (676) 23 617 Fax: (676) 24 915 Email: ronvea@kalianet.to
iii. Jones Cargo & Courier
P.O.Box 34
Taufa’ahau Rd.
Nuku’alofa, TONGA.
Ph: (676) 23 422 Fax: (676) 23 418 Email: emjones@kalianet.to
iv. TNT Courier Service:
Fakafanua Building
Ma’ufanga
Nuku’alofa, TONGA.
Ph: (676) 23 012 Fax: (676) 23 345 Email: tnt@forumshipping.to
Website: www.pflnz.co.nz.
FUEL
Petrol: maximum - T$2.86 per litre
Diesel: maximum - T$2.94 per litre
The above prices are reviewed on a monthly basis.
LAND AND FACTORY
Maximum period for commercial lease = 50 years (can be extended)
Maximum period for:
- agricultural land - 20 years (can be extended) ?
- urban commercial land - 50 years (can be extended)
Rates are decided through negotiation between the investor and the landowner (Government/nobles/private landowners).
Factory space (Small Industries Centre)
Monthly rental fee - minimum rate: $198 or per month
maximum: $650 per month
Rates are determined depending on the size of the factory shed.
Contact details: Mr Paulo Kautoke
Secretary
Ministry of Labour, Commerce & Industries
Nuku’alofa, TONGA.
Ph: (676) 23 688
Fax: (676) 23 887
Email: secretary@mlci.gov.to
Last updated on 25th March, 2008.
