Aholotu Palu has been involved in various roles in Tonga’s Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister’s Office for almost 20 years. He has also held significant positions at the World Bank, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS). An Economist by trade, he has vast experience on public policy analysis (fiscal and monetary), sovereign loan negotiations, banking, investment, healthcare financing and matters related to sustainable development.
His other areas of expertise include climate and disaster risk finance-related issues and public finance management; managing aid programs/projects with relevant stakeholders; project development, management and appraisals; and economic and budget analysis, planning, formulation and execution.
Aholotu graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Public Administration in Fiji and a Master of Sustainable International Development in the USA. In addition, he has undertaken post-graduate professional courses for Executive in Finance and Banking at the University of Malta, Public and Private Partnership Infrastructure in a Market Economy at Harvard University (Kennedy School) in the USA, and Small State Financial and Banking Management at Oxford University (St Catherine College) in the UK.