18 May 2012

Accounting change helps lift Tonga's GDP figures

1:36 pm on 18 May 2012

The struggling Tonga economy has had a lift in its gross domestic product figures for the first time in a number of years.

In the last financial year, 2010 to 2011, GDP was up 4 point 7 percent.

An advisor at the Statistics Department, Anne McAllister, says the figures were boosted after more of the funding for donor projects was included.

Radio Tonga says there has also been a lift in exports of fish, fruits and vegetables.

But Tonga is still importing much more than it exports, with imports up and exports down in the latest figures.