Accelerating Trade Facilitation Project in the Pacific (ATFP) P508537
PRESS RELEASE
ONGOONGO
MINISTRY OF REVENUE AND CUSTOMS
POTUNGĀUE TANAKI PAÁNGA MO E KASITOMU
Accelerating Trade Facilitation Project in the Pacific (ATFP) P508537
Fakaivia ó e Ngaahi Tokoni ki he Fefakatauáki í he Pasifiki (ATFP) P508537
Tonga, Fiji, Solomon, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tuvalu, PIFs
Tonga, Fisi, Solomone, Vanuatu, Kilipati, Tuvalu, Kautaha ó e Kau Taki ó e Otumotu Pasifiki
World Bank IDA Financing
Inasi Fakapáanga ki he Ótu motu Pasifiki mei he Pangikē ó Mamani
The Ministry of Revenue and Customs is pleased to announce the establishment of it’s Project Management Unit (PMU) to implement it’s first project known as the Accelerating Trade Facilitation in the Tonga (ATFP), under the Trade Facilitation Division at Customs, which had kicked off on the 11th February 2026.
Kuo áusia é he Potungāue Tanaki Paánga mo e Kasitomu á e fuofua fokotuú ó é Uniti foóu, í he malumalu o e Vaá Tokoni ki he Fefakatauáki í he Potungāue Kasitomu, ke fakahoko á e Polōseki ki hono fakaivia ó e ngaahi tokoni ki he Fefakatauáki, ‘a ia naé kamata í he áho 11 ó Fepueli, 2026.
The PMU has 4 national experienced specialists, led by Project Manager, Ms. ‘Ilisapesi Baker, Procurement Officer, Mr. Siaosi Vete, Finance Management Officer, Mrs. ‘Atelaite Pua, and Environmental Social Safeguards Officer, Mr. Sione Tukia Lepa. The PMU office is based at the Fe’ao mo e Ngalu Customs main Headquarters located at Queen Salote Wharf and reports to CEO, MORC through Trade Facilitation Division.
Óku kau ki he Úniti Foóu ni, á ‘Ilisapesi Baker, ko e Pule ía ke tokangaí ó e fakalele ó e Poloseki, pea kau mai ki ai mo Siaosi Vete, ko e ‘Ofisa óku ne tokangaí ó e ngaahi koloa lalahi ke fakatau, ko Atelaite Pua, ko e ‘Ofisa Tauhi Paánga ia pea mo Sione Tukia Lepa, ko e Ofisa tokangaí ó e ‘Atakai mo e ngaahi meá fakasōsiale ó e Polōseki. Óku tuú á e Uniti í he Ofisi Lahi ko e Feáo mo e Ngalu ó e Kasitomu í Uafu Kuini Salote pea óku tali ui ki he Pule Lahi ó e Potungaue Tanaki Paánga mo e Kasitomu fakafou í he Vaá Tokoni ó e Fefakatauáki.
The PMU is tasked to help MORC, the Implementing Agency (IA), to implement a USD$9.5m received by Government of Tonga from the regional World Bank IDA financing.
Óku feúnga mo e USD$9.5 miliona kuo fakaívia mai mei he Paánga Tokoni á e Pangike á Mamani ki he ‘Otu motu Pasifiki⸍, pea óku fakangāueí á e Uniti⸍ ni ke tataki á e ngaahi fiemaú ó e Polōseki⸍ ni.
AFTP became effective in September 2025, with regional investment of up to USD$60million (USD$40 million grants, USD$20 million credit) allocated to six (6) Pacific Island Countries (PPICs) including the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, aiming to reduce the time and cost required for cross-border trade. These reductions will have a direct benefit on firms and households through lower costs and faster access to global and regional markets. The project has a 5 year life period from 2026 to 2030.
Naé fakaátā ki he ‘otu motu Pasifiki é ono(6)⸍, í Sepitema 2025 á e Paánga fakakātoa é USD$60 miliona ($40 miliona ai ko e paánga tokoni, pea $20 miliona ko e paánga nō) pea kau ai mo e Kautaha Fakatahataha ó e Pasifiki⸍, í he taumuá ke vaveange mo maámaáange á e fefakatauáki ki he ngaahi kauáfonua ó e Pasifiki. Ko e ola ó e ngāue⸍ ni, é ‘aonga ki he ngaahi kautaha pisinisi⸍ pea mo e kakai ó e fonua. Óku feúnga mo e taú é 5 á e loloa ó e polōseki mei he 2026 ki he 2030.
AFTP project is comprised of three interlinked components that aims to reduce the time and cost of cross-border trade and contribute to broader economic growth and job creation.
Ko e Polōseki AFTP, óku í ai konga lalahi é 3, ke fakaivia ha ngaahi tokoni ke faingofua ange mo maámaáange ó e fefakatauáki í he ngaahi kauáafonua í he Pasifiki pea mo hono paotoloaki á e tupu fakaékanomika⸍ mo e fakatupulaki ó e fokotuú ngaahi ngaueánga foóu.
Component 1: Customs and Border Management Operations (USD$4.1m) led by Ministry of Revenue and Customs under the Trade Facilitation Division;
Konga 1 : Tokangaekina ó e ngaahi ngāaue ó e Kasitomu mo e Kauáa Fonua (USD$4.1m) á ia óku tataki ia é he Potungāue Tanaki Paánga mo e Kasitomu é he Vaá Tokoni ó e Fefakatauáki.
Component 2: Ports Operations (USD$4.1m) co-led by Ports Authority and Ministry of Infrastructure under the Marines Division; and
Konga 2 : Ngaahi ngāue ó e Taulanga Kauáfonua (USD$4.1m) á ia óku kaungā tataki ai á e Poate Taulanga pea mo e Vaá Malini ó e Potungāue Ngaahi Ngāue Lalahi; pea mo e
Component 3: Project Management and Regional Coordination (USD$1.3m) led by the PMU and PIFs.
Konga 3 : Ngaahi ngāue ó e Polōseki mo é fengāueáki mo e ngaahi otu motu Pasifiki é 6⸍, á ia óku tataki ia é he Vaá Uniti PMU ó e Polōseki
The Ministry of Revenue and Customs, as the leading implementing agency looks forward to collaborate closely with Ports Authority, Marines, Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, and the many stakeholders, on this project journey. In addition, to acknowledge the ongoing support of the Ministry of Finance, whom is the Executing Agency and as well, the World Bank Group, the major development partner of this initiative.
Óku ‘amanaki lele ai pe é he Potungāue Tanaki Paánga mo e Kasitomu⸍ ke hokohoko atu á e fengāueáki vāofi pea mo e Poate Taulanga⸍, Vaá Malini ó e Potungāue Ngāue Lalahi⸍, pehē foki ki he Potungāue Fefakatauáki mo e Fakalakalaka Fakaékanōmika mo e ngaahi kupu kotoa, ki he fakahoko ‘o e Polōseki ni. Ikai ngata ai⸍, óku í ai á e houngaía he ngaahi tokoni kotoa pe kuo fakafou mai mei he Potungāue Paánga í he fengāueáki pea mo e Pangikē ó Mamani.
-End-
Malo Áupito
MINISTRY OF REVENUE AND CUSTOMS
23rd February 2026
Potungāue Tanaki Paánga mo e Kasitomu
23 ó Fepueli 2026
