Sione Ngongo Kioa

Sione Ngongo Kioa
Kioa in 2017
Governor of National Reserve Bank of Tonga
In office 21 August 2013 – 10 October 2022
Preceded by	Siosi Cocker Mafi
Succeeded by	Tatafu Moeaki
Personal details
Born	14 April 1959
Alma mater	Australian National University University of the South Pacific

Sione Ngongo Kioa (born 14 April 1959)^[1] is a Tongan diplomat and civil servant. From 2013 to 2022 he served as governor of National Reserve Bank of Tonga.

After graduating from Tailulu College, Ngongo attended the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji, where he studied mathematics and economics,^[2] and later earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Economics at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia.^[1][3]

From 1992 to 1996 Ngongo was the Deputy Director of Central Planning, and from 1996 to 1999 he served in Washington, D.C. as Assistant Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund. After returning to Tonga in 2001, he was appointed as the Director of Fiscal and Economic Policies at the Ministry of Finance. In 2002 he became the Project Manager of the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Operation of Cyclone Waka.^[3]

From 2002 to 2005 Ngongo was General Manager of Leiola Duty Free Shops as well as the President of the Tonga Chamber of Commerce & Industries in Nuku’alofa. His appointment as Tongan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 21 November 2005, replacing Viela Tupou in the post.^[3]

He was the High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Kingdom from 2006 to 2012.^[2] He was also concurrently accredited as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tonga to the Russian Federation,^[4] Germany,^[1] the Netherlands,^[5] Denmark,^[6] Italy,^[7] Luxembourg,^[8] Switzerland,^[9] Belgium,^[10] and the European Union.^[11]

Effective 21 August 2013, Ngongo was appointed Governor of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga, the central bank. His first term lasted until 2018.^[12] He stepped down in October 2022.^[13] Since 1 March 2022, he has been Chairman of the Shared Board Transport Sector. ^[14]

Honours

National honours

• Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III, Grand Cross (31 July 2008).^[15]

References

1. "New Ambassadors". Business and Diplomacy. Archived from the original on 2009-05-05. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
2. "Dr Ngongo Kioa appointed as new Reserve Bank Governor - Kaniva Pacific NZ". 15 February 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-02-15.
3. "TONGA NAMES NEW ENVOY TO UNITED KINGDOM". Pacific Islands Report. 24 November 2005. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
4. Дипломатические и консульские представительства зарубежных государств в России (in Russian). Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia). 2 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
5. "TONGAN DIPLOMAT GREETED IN NETHERLANDS CEREMONY". Pacific Islands Report. 3 July 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
6. "List of ambassadors presenting their credentials on 17 November 2008". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark). November 2008. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
7. "Il Presidente Napolitano ha ricevuto le Credenziali dei nuovi Ambasciatori di Tonga e Namibia" (in Italian). President of Italy. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
8. "Corps Diplomatique" (PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (Luxembourg). 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
9. "Consegna delle credenziali" (in Italian). Government of Switzerland. 1 July 2008. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
10. "Préséance des Ambassadeurs accrédités en Belgique" (PDF) (in French). Government of Belgium. 18 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
11. "Présentation des lettres de créance des chefs de mission auprès des CE, à José Manuel Barroso, président de la CE" (in French). European Commission. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 2009-06-13.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
12. "Dr Ngongo Kioa appointed as new Reserve Bank Governor". Nuku'alofa: New Zealand Kaniva Pacific. 25 August 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-14.
13. "Job Advertisement The Governor - National Reserve Bank of Tonga". www.reservebank.to. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
14. "Ports Authority Tonga AGM announces $2.2 million net profit". Matangitonga. 2022-05-08. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
15. "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.