Fishing industry

They will also ask countries which fish in Tongan waters to pay increased fees.

Ministry of Labour and Commerce CEO Edgar Cocker said higher fees would help Tonga’s economy.

“There are rich countries which have refused to do this, but I will lobby them to try to change their minds,” Cocker said.

Tonga’s balance of trade needed change for the good of the economy and the country needed to boost exports in 2018.

Minister of Labour and Commerce Dr Pohiva Tu’ionetoa and Cocker will attend the WTO Trade Ministerial meeting in Argentina.

During recent Pacer Plus trade negotiations, Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilapea Sailele Malielegaoi called on New Zealand unions to consider expanding the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme to areas such as construction and fisheries.

Mr Jones says a pilot fisheries training programme in Kiribati, funded by the New Zealand government, will allow some of its graduates to work in New Zealand.

He says regional leaders are keen to see similar programmes in other parts of the Pacific.