Why is infrastructure investment so important for Tonga? What role does national planning have in helping Tonga work with its partners to reach its development goals and meet the needs of its people?The Government of Tonga has laid out a five-year T$ 350 million plan to boost the country’s infrastructure with the release of its second Tonga National Infrastructure Investment Plan (NIIP) 2013. The NIIP 2013 identifies 13 “high priority” projects totalling some T$170 million. Together with ongoing and already committed projects, the total investment in economic infrastructure over the next 5 years is estimated at some T$ 350 million. With Tonga, NIIP plans now exist in six Pacific Island Countries. How does the NIIP process SPEAKERS:

Ms. Lesieli Tufui Faletau, Deputy Secretary of Finance, Ministry of Finance & National Planning, Government of Tonga. Mr John Austin, Director, PRIF Coordination OfficeInterviewed by Michael Hutak, Asian Development Bank, Sydney

Media Inquiries  

For Government of Tonga: Ms. Lesieli Tufui Faletau, [email protected], +676 28120For PRIF: Mr Jack Whelan, [email protected] +61-2-8270-9444