Prime Minister Eke Meets with World Bank Constituency Executive Director Sutra at the 2025 World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings
13 October 2025, Washington, D.C.
On the opening day of the 2025 World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings, Hon. Dr. Aisake Valu Eke, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Kingdom of Tonga, met with the World Bank Constituency Executive Director, Mr. Wempi Sutra, who represents eleven (11) member countries—including Tonga and Fiji—from the Pacific on the World Bank Board of Directors.
The meeting provided an opportunity for Executive Director Sutra to brief Prime Minister Eke, in his capacity as Governor for the World Bank, on key updates regarding the Bank’s operations and ongoing initiatives. Prime Minister Eke expressed his appreciation for the continued support of the Executive Director and his office and acknowledged the valuable contribution of Tonga’s own Director Advisor, Ms. Ilaisaane Lolo.
Prime Minister Eke commended the World Bank for maintaining strong performance amid global economic fragmentation, international policy uncertainties, and the persistent challenges of climate change. He emphasized Tonga’s focus on scaling up financing for key sectoral projects that promote sustainable economic growth—particularly in areas such as digital transformation and economic development. He underscored that climate resilience remains a major long-term priority for Tonga and should remain central to the Bank’s operations in the Pacific.
The Prime Minister also reaffirmed Tonga’s support for the World Bank’s strategic direction, noting its alignment with Tonga’s national development priorities. He highlighted digital transformation as a critical driver of progress—enhancing public service delivery, improving efficiency, and reducing costs to achieve sustainable outcomes.
He also emphasised the need for the Bank to consider seriously the appropriateness of using the Multi-dimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) as tool to assess vulnerabilities of countries in the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) including Tonga, that impacted Tonga’s eligibility to access multilateral financial assistance, similar to how the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is currently using by the Bank as tool to measure Tonga’s eligibility to the IDA. In response, ED Sutra assures the delegation that his Office will raise this concern with the Bank’s Management for future action.
In closing, Prime Minister Eke conveyed Tonga’s deep appreciation for the World Bank’s enduring partnership and unwavering support, which remain instrumental in advancing major development projects and strengthening Tonga’s pathway toward resilience and inclusive growth.
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Fakataha ‘a e ‘Eiki Palēmia´ Hon. Eke pea mo e Talēkita ki he Pangikē ‘a Mämani´, Mr Sutra, ‘i he fakataha lahi ‘a e Pangikē ‘a Mämani – Kautaha Pa’anga Fakavaha’apule’anga´ ki he ta’u 2025
13 ‘Okatopa 2025, Uasingatoni, D.C.
‘I he ‘aho ‘uluaki ‘o e fakataha lahi ‘a e Pangikē ‘a Mämani´ – Kautaha Pa’anga Fakavaha’apule’anga´ ki he ta’u 2025, na’e fakahoko ai ‘a e fakataha ‘a e ‘Eiki Palēmia´ mo e ‘Eiki Minisitä Pa’anga´ Hon Toketä ‘Aisake Valu Eke pea mo e Talēkita ‘o e ‘ofisi Vähenga, ‘oku´ne tokanga’i ‘a e ngaahi Fonua mēmipa ‘e 11, kau ai ‘a Tonga pea mo Fisi mei´he Pasifiki´ ki he poate ‘a e Pangikē ‘a Mämani´.
Ko e faingamälie foki ‘eni ki he Talēkita´ ke fakamatala mo fale’i ‘a e ‘Eiki Palēmia´ ‘i hono lakanga ko e Kövana ‘o e Pangikē, ki he ngaahi ngaue lolotonga ‘a e Pangikē´ pea mo e ngaahi fokotu’utu’u ngaue´. Na’e fakamälö’ia’i foki ‘e he ‘Eiki Palēmia´ ‘a e ngaahi ngäue mo e poupou ‘oku fakahoko ‘e he Talēkita´ pea mo hono ‘ofisi´pea ki he ngäue ‘a e tokotaha tonu pē mei Tonga, ko e tokotaha fale’i ki he Talēkita´ ko Ilaisaane Lolo.
Na’e toe fakahä foki ‘e he ‘Eiki Palēmia´ ‘a ‘ene loto fiefia ki he malava ke kei pukepuke ‘i he tu’unga fakafiemälie ‘a e ngaahi ngäue ‘a e Pangikē´, lolotonga ‘a e taimi lahi hono ngaahi pole´, ‘o kau ai ‘a e ngaahi fetö’aki ‘i he tu’unga faka’ikonömika´, faka’ilongaua ‘a e vakai ki he tu’unga fakavaha’apule’anga´, pea mo e ngaahi pole feläve’i mo e feliliuaki ‘o e ‘ea.´ Na’a´ne toe me’a foki ‘o fakamamafa’i ‘a ‘ene tokanga ke fakalahi ‘a e pa’anga ki hono fakapa’anga ‘o e ngaahi ngäue fakalakalaka ‘i he ngaahi sekitoa faka’ikonömika´’i he taumu’a ke a’usia ha tupu faka’ikonömika ‘oku tu’uloa´ - tautefito ki he ngaahi tafa’aki ‘oku fiema’u vivili´, ‘o kau ai ‘a e nga’unu ke faka-komipiuta’i ‘a e ngaahi ngäue ‘a e pule’anga ´, pea mo e ngaahi ngäue fakalakalaka faka’ikonömika´. Na’a ne toe fakahä foki, ‘a e hokohoko atu ‘a e tokanga ki he tu’unga mateuteu ke matatali ‘a e feliliuaki e ‘ea´ ki he kaha’u´ pea ke kei fakakau pē ki he ngaahi tefito’i fiema’u vivili mei´he ngaahi Fonua ‘o e Pasifiki´, ‘o kau ai ‘a Tonga.
Na’e fakapapau’i ai pē ‘e he ‘Eiki Palēmia´ ‘a ‘ene poupou ki he ki he ngaahi fokotu’utu’u ngäue ‘a e Pangikē, ‘a ia ‘oku fenäpasi lelei pē mo e ngaahi taumu’a fakalakalaka ‘a e fonua´. Na’a´ne me’a foki, ko e ngäue ko ‘eni ke fakakomipiuta’i ‘a e ngaahi ngäue ‘a e Pule’anga´ ko e makatu’unga mahu’inga ia ‘o e ngaahi ngäue fakalelei´’a e Pule’anga´- ke toe lelei ange ‘a e fakahoko fatongia ‘a e Pule’anga´, vave pea mo si’isi’i ange ‘a e fakamole´ kae kei a’usia pe ‘a e taumu’a ngäue mo e tu’unga fakalakalaka ‘oku tu’uloa´.
Na’e toe tokanga foki ‘a e ‘Eiki Palēmia´ ki he Pangikē, ke vakai’i ‘a hono ngaue’aki ‘o e me’afua ki hono fakafuofua e tu’unga ‘o e nofo masivesiva´ (MVI), ke sivi’i ‘a e tu’unga masivesiva ‘o e ngaahi Fonua iiki´, ‘o kau ki ai ‘a Tonga, ‘a ia ‘e malava ai ‘a Tonga ke monữ’ia mei´he ngaahi tokoni fakapa’anga mei´ he ngaahi kautaha fakavaha’apule’anga´, ‘o fakatatau ki hono ngaue’aki lolotonga ‘o e me’afua ki he lahi ‘o e koloa mo e ngaue ‘oku ngaohi fakalotofonua´(GDP), ko e me’afua ke fakatefito mei ai ‘a e tu’unga malava ke ‘inasi ‘a Tonga mei´he tokoni fakapa’anga mei´he Pangikē´. Na’e tali ai ‘e he Talēkita´, Mr Sutra, ‘e ngäue atu ‘a hono ‘ofisi´ ke ‘ohake ‘eni ki he Pangikē´, ke fakahoko ha ngäue ki ai.
Na’e faka’osi ‘aki ‘e he ‘Eiki Palēmia´ ‘a e fakamälö loto hounga meiate ia pea pehē ki he Pule’anga Tonga´ ki he Pangikē´ ‘i he fengäue’aki väofi kotoa pē mo e ngaahi tokoni lahi kotoa pe, ‘o malava ke fakahoko lelei ai ‘a e ngaahi ngäue fakalakalaka ‘i Tonga´pea pehē ki he taumu’a´, ke a’usia ha tupu faka’ikonömika ‘oku tu’uloa´.
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