NPGA signing ceremony for the Tonga Broadcasting Commission
2025/12/10
On December 10, His Excellency Hisao Inagaki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Tonga, and Hon. Dr. Aisake Valu Eke, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga signed and exchanged notes concerning the FY2025 Economic and Social Development Plan for Tonga (related to solar power generation system equipment), with a grant amount of ¥400 million.
As the sole public nationwide broadcaster, the Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC) plays an important role in protecting the lives and safety of the people by disseminating emergency information and guiding evacuations during disasters, as well as providing information to the public. However, rising fuel costs for power generation have severely impacted the TBC's financial situation, making it increasingly difficult to maintain stable public broadcasting services.
The aim of this project is to reduce electricity costs and ensure stable TBC broadcasting, including during disasters, by introducing solar power generation facilities from which all Tongan people nationwide can benefit.
Ambassador Inagaki noted that this cooperation will stabilize TBC's power supply, reducing the risk of interruptions to emergency broadcasting during disasters. He stated, “This cooperation will significantly contribute to strengthening resilience, as outlined in the Leaders' Declaration and Joint Action Plan of the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders’ Summit,” and added “Japan-Tonga cooperation in the spirit of mutual understanding will foster the realization of a ‘free and open Indo-Pacific' based on the rule of law.”
Hon. Dr. Eke expressed gratitude for Japan's support, emphasizing that “It is our mutual respect, our mutual understanding of each other’s challenges that our two Governments are dedicated to working together to build our resilience, contributing to the strengthening of our Kizuna, of the Blue Pacific Continent and the prosperity of our two people in the Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
As the sole public nationwide broadcaster, the Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC) plays an important role in protecting the lives and safety of the people by disseminating emergency information and guiding evacuations during disasters, as well as providing information to the public. However, rising fuel costs for power generation have severely impacted the TBC's financial situation, making it increasingly difficult to maintain stable public broadcasting services.
The aim of this project is to reduce electricity costs and ensure stable TBC broadcasting, including during disasters, by introducing solar power generation facilities from which all Tongan people nationwide can benefit.
Ambassador Inagaki noted that this cooperation will stabilize TBC's power supply, reducing the risk of interruptions to emergency broadcasting during disasters. He stated, “This cooperation will significantly contribute to strengthening resilience, as outlined in the Leaders' Declaration and Joint Action Plan of the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders’ Summit,” and added “Japan-Tonga cooperation in the spirit of mutual understanding will foster the realization of a ‘free and open Indo-Pacific' based on the rule of law.”
Hon. Dr. Eke expressed gratitude for Japan's support, emphasizing that “It is our mutual respect, our mutual understanding of each other’s challenges that our two Governments are dedicated to working together to build our resilience, contributing to the strengthening of our Kizuna, of the Blue Pacific Continent and the prosperity of our two people in the Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
- Press release here(PDF)
(583KB)