The Ministry of Trade and Economic Development (MTED), in partnership with the Market Development Facility (MDF) Pacific Regional, has embarked on the second stage of the collaborative “Tonga Business Accelerator Pilot Project.”

A training program commenced on Monday 29th April till May 10th to develop local trainers, empowering the capabilities to provide effective coaching and mentoring skills to support small and medium-sized businesses in the community.

Twenty local business managers/owners were selected to participate in this training focusing on crucial aspects such as human resources, strategic planning, financial management and marketing.

Over the next few months, participants will then conduct a series of trainings with local businesses around Tongatapu and the outer islands on same aspects to enhance operations, improve overall performance, and navigate the challenges caused by external crises.

In 2022, the first stage of the project assisted 18 small businesses in various industries such as food processing, fabric printing, and furniture production to reset, recover and rebuild from the multiple impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption.

The training is led by a master trainer from Australia, Mr. Steve Cordeiro, with the support of Palinda Kaituʻu and four trainers from the Fiji Enterprise Engine (FEE).