The new Australian high commissioner to Tonga Andrew Ford has arrived in Nuku’alofa today.
Mr Ford was scheduled to present his credentials to His Majesty the King of Tonga later this month.
“I look forward to building on Tonga and Australia’s close and broad partnership” said Mr Ford. “Australia will continue to work together with Tonga for economic prosperity, improved development outcomes and stability in the region.”
The Australian government suported Tonga through its AUSAID program, Tonga Police Development Program, Defence Cooperation Program and initiatives to promote trade and labour mobility in the Pacific.
“Mr Ford is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and until recently was Director of the Free Trade Agreement Policy and New Issues Section. Mr Ford has served as Director of areas responsible for Trade Competitiveness, International Economics and Finance, and Trade Policy as well as Security Policy and Operations”, a statement said.
He has previously served overseas as Counsellor (Political and Economic) in Kuala Lumpur and First Secretary (Economic) in Seoul.