NTRO was pleased to participate in the 48th Pacific Maritime Transport Alliance (PMTA) Annual Conference between 5th - 8th August, 2026 in the Tongan Capital, Nuku’alofa, which brought together port and maritime leaders from across the Pacific, alongside industry partners and a strong Australian delegation.
The international conference provided an important opportunity to share ideas around innovation, safety, resilience and green growth - issues particularly significant for Pacific nations.
NTRO Executive General Manager (Strategic Partnerships & Growth), Jason Sprott, presented on ‘Sustainable Maritime Development’, highlighting the growing importance of ensuring that environmental sustainability and climate resilience are embedded into the future planning and operation of Pacific ports.
A particular highlight was showcasing the Port Authority of Tonga’s new ‘GreenPort Framework’, developed in partnership with the NTRO-Pacific team. The Framework provides a practical pathway for the Port Authority to continue improving its environmental performance while strengthening the resilience and sustainability of its operations.
The ‘GreenPort Framework’ video was released as part of Jason’s presentation, sharing the story behind the initiative and the Port Authority of Tonga’s ambition to lead environmental change in the Pacific region.
It was encouraging to see such a strong Australian port industry presence at PMTA, providing another opportunity to strengthen connections between Australian and Pacific ports and share knowledge, experience and capability across the region.
Congratulations to Aloki Hakau Maileseni and his team at PAT for hosting an incredible 48th PMTA conference.
For NTRO, the week in Tonga was also about continuing to strengthen relationships beyond the conference itself.
‘It was a privilege to meet with the Hon. Prime Minister of Tonga, Lord Fakafanua, the Hon. Minister for Public Enterprises, Siaosi Sovaleni, and our long-term friend, the Hon. Minister for Customs and Inland Revenue, Sevenitini Toumoua.
‘These discussions reinforced the importance of long-term partnerships - listening and learning from each other as we strive to collectively achieve improved infrastructure outcomes in the region’.
‘For NTRO, our engagement in the Pacific is about much more than individual projects. It is about building trusted relationships and working alongside governments, infrastructure owners and communities to develop practical solutions that respond to local priorities’, Jason said.
The week in Tonga was another example of what can be achieved through authentic collaboration.
We are extremely proud of the relationships we continue to build across the Pacific and look forward to continuing that journey alongside our partners.
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