Title from cover.

"Produced for the Working Group on Starting a Business under the Task Force on Regulatory Reform and the Ministry for Labour, Commerce & Industries ; presented to the Government of Tonga"--Cover.

"The Government of Tonga has committed itself to improving the business environment in the Kingdom, and several institutions within Government have been tasked to take on this challenge. As part of its mandate in the original Terms of Reference, the Working Group on Starting a Business Under the Task Force on Regulatory Reform was tasked 'to assess the current situation as regards starting a new business in Tonga and determine any restriction restrictions in terms of time, cost, procedures, etc. that may apply as a consequence of inappropriate regulation.' This document attempts to fulfill this mandate with regard to business licensing, building on the process maps produced in July 2009 that set forth the steps currently required to obtain various business licenses in Tonga. This assessment continues that work by now setting forth a full assessment of the legislation, underlying policies and procedures behind each of the licenses that are issued under the general Business License. This document then offers recommendations on how the entire licensing area might be revamped in those cases where there are 'restrictions in terms of cost, time, procedures, etc.' in the licensing regime. Therefore, this review is meant as a blueprint for further actions by the Government of Tonga"--Executive summary.