r of:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, INTERPOL,
IOC, ITU, LORCS, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Siosaia a'Ulupekotofa TUITA resides in London
US:
the US has no offices in Tonga; the Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to
Tonga and makes periodic visits
Flag:
red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side
corner

:Tonga Economy

Overview:
The economy's base is agriculture, which employs about 70% of the labor
force and contributes 50% to GDP. Coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are
the main crops and make up two-thirds of exports. The country must import a
high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The manufacturing
sector accounts for only 11% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard
currency earnings, but the island remains dependent on sizable external aid
and remittances to offset its trade deficit.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $92 million, per capita $900; real growth rate
2.5% (FY90 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.9% (third quarter 1991)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $30.6 million; expenditures $48.9 million, including capital
expenditures of $22.5 million (FY89 est.)
Exports:
$9.6 million (f.o.b., FY90 est.)
commodities:
coconut oil, desiccated coconut, copra, bananas, taro, vanilla beans,
fruits, vegetables, fish
partners:
NZ 35%, Australia 22%, US 13%, Fiji 5% (FY90)
Imports:
$59.9 million (c.i.f., FY90 est.)
commodities:
food products, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, fuels,
chemicals
partners:
NZ 30%, Australia 23%, US 12%, Japan 7% (FY90)
External debt:
$42.0 million (FY89)
Industrial production:
growth rate 15% (FY86); accounts for 11% of GDP
Electricity:
6,000 kW capacity; 8 million kWh produced, 80 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
tourism, fishing
Agriculture:
dominated by coconut, copra, and banana production; vanilla beans, cocoa,
coffee, ginger, black pepper
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $16 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $258 million
Currency:
pa'anga (plural - pa'anga); 1 pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti
Exchange rates:
pa'anga (T$) per US$1 - 1.2987 (January 1992), 1.2961 (1991), 1.2809 (1