flag Tonga Tonga: Investing

FDI in Figures

The South Pacific island nation of Tonga is one of the smallest and most isolated on the planet, and attracts very little FDI. According to UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2023, FDI inflows stood at USD 3 million in 2022, while the FDI stock was estimated at USD 472 million, around 94.9% of the country’s GDP. Agriculture and tourism remain two of the main sectors attracting foreign investment, mainly from China, Japan and the United States. Renewable energy and deep-sea mining also offer investment opportunities. China and Tonga have deepened political mutual trust and achieved fruitful exchanges and cooperation in various fields since the establishment of diplomatic ties, and China is ready to expand cooperation with Tonga in various fields within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

In spite of reforms taken by the Government aiming to attract investors, the country presents many discouraging factors. The archipelago remains extremely vulnerable to external shocks and foreign investors cannot buy land in the territory. Moreover, the general lack of infrastructure development, unpredictable government policies and difficult access to certain regions of the country tend to discourage foreign investors. Foreign investment in several sectors of the economy is restricted. Property rights are uncertain, and their enforcement is weak. The judicial system is generally independent but inadequately resourced. The state's oversized role in the economy crowds out private-sector development. In 2019, the parliament passed the Foreign Investment Bill 2019, which includes amendments to the legal framework of FDIs. The country’s performance is particularly low in resolving insolvencies and registering a property indexes. Tonga ranks 85th out of 184 countries on the latest Index of Economic Freedom.

 

Country Comparison For the Protection of Investors

  Tonga East Asia & Pacific United States Germany
Index of Transaction Transparency* 3.0 5.9 7.0 5.0
Index of Manager’s Responsibility** 3.0 5.2 9.0 5.0
Index of Shareholders’ Power*** 9.0 6.7 9.0 5.0

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.

Note: *The Greater the Index, the More Transparent the Conditions of Transactions. **The Greater the Index, the More the Manager is Personally Responsible. *** The Greater the Index, the Easier it Will Be For Shareholders to Take Legal Action.

 
Foreign Direct Investment 202020212022
FDI Inward Flow (million USD) 403
FDI Stock (million USD) 469.3469.6472.5

Source: UNCTAD - Latest available data

Note: * Greenfield Investments are a form of Foreign Direct Investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up.

 

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Tax Rates

Consumption tax
15% (standard rate).
Company Tax
25%
Withholding Taxes
Dividends: 15%; Interests: 15%; Royalties: 15%.
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers
5% of the registered employee’s salary.
Other Domestic Resources
Ministry of Revenue & Customs
Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the taxes and mandatory contributions.
 
 

Individual Taxes

Personal income tax Earnings amount per annum
TOP 0 - 10,000 0
TOP 10,001 - 30,000 10%
TOP 30,000 - 60,000 20%
Above TOP 60,000 25%
 
 

Country Comparison For Corporate Taxation

  Tonga East Asia & Pacific United States Germany
Number of Payments of Taxes per Year 30.0 23.4 10.6 9.0
Time Taken For Administrative Formalities (Hours) 200.0 195.1 175.0 218.0
Total Share of Taxes (% of Profit) 27.5 33.8 36.6 48.8

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.

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Investment Opportunities

Tenders, Projects and Public Procurement
Tenders Info, Tenders in Tonga
DgMarket, Tenders Worldwide
Setting Up a Company
Consult Doing Business Website, to know about procedures to start a Business in Tonga.
 

Business Setup Procedures

Setting Up a Company Tonga East Asia & Pacific
Procedures (number) 4.00 7.25
Time (days) 16.00 29.73

Source: Doing Business.

 
 
 

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Latest Update: May 2024