The leading provider of microfinance in Tonga

Following the success of SPBD Samoa, we successfully launched our first replication in the Kingdom of Tonga in 2009. SPBD Tonga reached financial sustainability within 18 months of inception and has disbursed more than US $87,000,000 in loans to hard-working women. SPBD operates on the four major islands/islands groups of Tonga.

Foloita Pulu 3

Why Tonga?

Only 30% of Tongan women are employed and 40% of them are underemployed being engaged in subsistence farming, fishing, and handicrafts. 23% of the population lives below the poverty line. Opportunities for salaried employment are scarce.

SPBD Tonga by the numbers

Group 6

US $87.3M

Value of loans disbursed

since inception

Group 7

75,700

Number of loans made to

hard-working women since inception

Group 3

10,400

Number of

savings accounts

Group 13 1

4,800

Number of

loans outstanding

“I am very thrilled that SPBD has recognized my hard work and commitment to my business. I am very proud to be one of the many who has succeeded in using these loans to further my business.”

Pasiano, Weaver, Tonga
Pasiano Tonga
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About Tonga

Tonga went through a period of violent civil unrest in 2006 but has since then enjoyed political stability. GDP per capita is about USD 3,700. Remittances form 24% of GDP and 82% of households benefit from them. Four private commercial banks are active in the country: BSP (Bank of South Pacific), ANZ, Malaysian Banking Finance (MBf Bank) and the Tonga Development Bank (TDB).

Latest News

SPBD Fiji director and general manager Elrico Munoz (with garland) is flanked by staff during a special ceremony to celebrate SPBD Fiji’s milestone disbursement of $125m in micro loans.
SPBD Disburses a Record $125m in Micro Loans

Microfinance network South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) Fiji has disbursed a record $125million in loans to women-owned and managed businesses in its 14 years of operation in the country. This comes only a year after reaching $100m in cumulative loan disbursements to more than 7000 empowered women entrepreneurs who are managing thriving businesses and transforming […]

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SPBD Tonga Celebrates Women’s Microenterprise Success Over 15 Years of Service
South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) Tonga marked a significant milestone—15 years of dedicated service in the Kingdom of Tonga—with a grand celebration recognizing the remarkable achievements of female entrepreneurs at its Annual Business Women of the Year Awards, held on 20 June 2025, at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall in Nukuʻalofa. The prestigious awards ceremony honored [...]
Historic First: SPBD Solomon Islands Businesswomen Awards
SPBD Solomon Islands honors women entrepreneurs at its first Businesswomen of the Year Awards in Honiara. A groundbreaking milestone was achieved on the morning of Friday 27th June 2025, as SPBD Solomon Islands successfully hosted its first-ever Businesswomen of the Year Awards at St. Barnabas Cathedral Hall in Honiara. Organized by South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) [...]

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