Sione Ngongo Kioa | |
---|---|
Governor of National Reserve Bank of Tonga | |
In office 21 August 2013 –10 October 2022 | |
Preceded by | Siosi Cocker Mafi |
Succeeded by | Tatafu Moeaki |
Personal details | |
Born | 14 April 1959 |
Alma mater | Australian National University University of the South Pacific |
Sione Ngongo Kioa (born 14 April 1959) [1] is a Tongan diplomat and civil servant. From 2013 to 2022 he served as governor of National Reserve Bank of Tonga.
After graduating from Tailulu College,Ngongo attended the University of the South Pacific in Suva,Fiji,where he studied mathematics and economics, [2] and later earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Economics at the Australian National University in Canberra,Australia. [1] [3]
From 1992 to 1996 Ngongo was the Deputy Director of Central Planning,and from 1996 to 1999 he served in Washington,D.C. as Assistant Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund. After returning to Tonga in 2001,he was appointed as the Director of Fiscal and Economic Policies at the Ministry of Finance. In 2002 he became the Project Manager of the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Operation of Cyclone Waka. [3]
From 2002 to 2005 Ngongo was General Manager of Leiola Duty Free Shops as well as the President of the Tonga Chamber of Commerce &Industries in Nuku’alofa. His appointment as Tongan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 21 November 2005,replacing Viela Tupou in the post. [3]
He was the High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Kingdom from 2006 to 2012. [2] He was also concurrently accredited as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tonga to the Russian Federation, [4] Germany, [1] the Netherlands, [5] Denmark, [6] Italy, [7] Luxembourg, [8] Switzerland, [9] Belgium, [10] and the European Union. [11]
Effective 21 August 2013,Ngongo was appointed Governor of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga,the central bank. His first term lasted until 2018. [12] He stepped down in October 2022. [13] Since 1 March 2022,he has been Chairman of the Shared Board Transport Sector. [14]
Tonga,officially the Kingdom of Tonga,is an island country in Polynesia,part of Oceania. The country has 171 islands –of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about 750 km2 (290 sq mi),scattered over 700,000 km2 (270,000 sq mi) in the southern Pacific Ocean. As of 2021,according to Johnson's Tribune,Tonga has a population of 104,494,70% of whom reside on the main island,Tongatapu. The country stretches approximately 800 km (500 mi) north-south. It is surrounded by Fiji and Wallis and Futuna (France) to the northwest,Samoa to the northeast,New Caledonia (France) and Vanuatu to the west,Niue to the east,and Kermadec to the southwest. Tonga is about 1,800 km (1,100 mi) from New Zealand's North Island.
Nukuʻalofa is the capital and largest city of Tonga. It is located on the north coast of the island of Tongatapu,in the country's southernmost island group.
Tupou VI is King of Tonga. He is the younger brother and successor of the late King George Tupou V.
Sonatane Tu'akinamolahi Taumopeau Tupou,Lord Taumoepeau-Tupou of Toula and Kotu was a diplomat from the Kingdom of Tonga. Lord Taumoepeau-Tupou had been the foreign minister of Tonga since 24 August 2004,though his appointment was not announced until 2 September 2004. He had also been Minister of Defense since April 2005 till his death.
George Tupou V was King of Tonga from 2006 to his death in 2012. He was the eldest son of King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV.
Feleti Vakaʻuta Sevele,Lord Sevele of Vailahi is a Tongan politician who served as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga from 30 March 2006 to 22 December 2010.
The National Reserve Bank of Tonga is the central bank of Tonga. The Reserve Bank is responsible for regulating the issue and supply of domestic and international currency,as well as promoting monetary stability and economic development. It also advises the Ministry of Finance on banking and monetary matters,acts as the principal banker and fiscal agent of the Government of Tonga,and is responsible for the licensing and supervision of financial institutions. The current Governor is Ngongo Kioa.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Tonga:
Tonga and China (PRC) established official diplomatic relations in 1998. The two countries maintain cordial diplomatic,economic,and military relations.
Japan and Tonga have maintained official diplomatic relations since July 1970. Japan is Tonga's leading donor in the field of technical aid. The Japanese government describes its relations with Tonga as "excellent",and states that "the Imperial family of Japan and the Royal family of Tonga have developed a cordial and personal relationship over the years". Japan is one of only four countries to have an embassy in Nukuʻalofa,whilst Tonga has an embassy in Tokyo.
Siosa'ia Ma'ulupekotofa Tuita is a Tongan royal and diplomat. He is the current Chief Tuita,Lord Tuita.
Halaevalu Mata'aho ʻAhomeʻe was Queen of Tonga from 1965 to 2006,as the wife of King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV. She was the mother of King George Tupou V and the current King of Tonga,Tupou VI.
New Zealand–Tonga relations refers to the diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the Kingdom of Tonga. Both nations are members of the Commonwealth of Nations,Pacific Islands Forum and the United Nations.
Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni,styled Hon. Hu'akavameiliku,is a Tongan politician who has been serving as the Prime Minister of Tonga since 2021. He has previously served as a Cabinet Minister,and from 2014 to 2017,he was Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga. He is the current estate holder of the village of Ha'asini.
Viela Tupou is a Tongan civil servant. She has served as Tonga's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and as Tonga's Lord Chamberlain.
Tatafu Toma Moeaki is a Tongan politician,former Cabinet Minister,and civil servant.
Siosiua Tuitalukua Tupou ʻUtoikamanu is a Tongan politician and former Cabinet Minister. He was Tonga's Minister of Finance from 2001 to 2008.
Siosi Cocker Mafi is a Tongan economist. She was Governor of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga from May 2003 to July 2013,the first women to serve in the post.
Petunia Tupou is a Tongan lawyer and jurist. Since 2022 she has been a judge of the Supreme Court of Tonga.
Siaosi Taimani ʻAho was a Tongan diplomat,civil servant,politician,and Cabinet minister. He was Tonga's first Commissioner for Public Relations.