During the Forum Meetings in New Zealand , Tonga’s Prime Minister, Lord Tu’ivakano will attend a Signing ceremony with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for the Tonga-Fiji Connectivity Project (Phase 1),also known as the Fibre Optic Submarine Cable Project .

This project is under the Pacific Islands Regional Connectivity Program, which is piloted in Tonga.

This US$34 million project is financed from a grant by the World Bank of US$17.2 million, ADB of US$9.7, and PRIF of US$0.5 million. The other US$6.6 million is an investment by the Tonga Communications Corporation, TCC.

The signing ceremony is scheduled to take place on Friday, 9 September, 2011. The Lord Prime Minister signs in his capacity as the Minister for Information and Communications.

Source: Tonga Cable, September 09, 2011;