Tonga has joined the competition, consumer protection, and economic regulators from across the Pacific to share intelligence, investigative techniques, and authority best practice, in a newly formed initiative to be called the Pacific Island Network of Competition Consumer and Economic Regulators or PINCCER.

The founding PINCCER national authorities represents the economies of   Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Tonga, have already set about establishing the network protocols and focus areas.  The Pacific region is home to several small island developing economies that face common challenges in facilitating fair competition, pricing, and consumer protection. Many of these economies are small and emerging and their authorities are still growing their expertise and resources in these areas.   

PINCCER will seek to build agency capabilities, strengthen the combined agency voice of competition and consumer protection authorities in Pacific Island smaller economies and provide a focused forum to promote well-functioning markets.

“This is a great initiative for Tonga’s economic development” says the Minister for Trade and Economic Development, Hon. Dr. Viliami Latu. “The Ministry has developed a Consumer and Competition Policy and is now working on the review of the current Consumer Protection Act. Tonga has also prioritized the development of the Standardisation Roadmap for Tonga this financial year. The Ministry is looking forward to working closely with member countries to build capacity, share experiences and build a stronger combined Consumer and Competition voice from the Pacific.”  

For any further details and enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact: Mrs. Sandradee Fifita, Director of Consumer Affairs, Consumer Protection and Fair-Trade Division at telephone 7400108 or email sandraf@mted.gov.to

Ministry of Trade and Economic Development

6 November, 2023

END