Small businesses are being encouraged to register trademarks to protect their brands and boost growth.
The Ministry of Trade and Economic Development (MTED), in partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), has conducted a series of workshops in Nuku’alofa to educate local entrepreneurs on the importance of trademarks and branding. The sessions targeted sectors such as printing, graphic design, and tailoring.
“Every business owner must understand the importance of differentiating their product or service… and to register it to ensure legal protection,” the MTED stated.
The training is part of a broader initiative leading up to the Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Conference (HIPOC) for Pacific Island Countries, held in Tonga last week .
WIPO, with support from the Japan Patent Office, aims to strengthen intellectual property systems across the Pacific. Mahmoud Esfahani Nejad of WIPO emphasised a “whole-of-government approach” to expanding IP impact in the region.
MTED noted that many Tongan businesses lack registered trademarks, leaving them vulnerable to brand misuse and limiting market expansion.
The workshops provided practical tools to help businesses protect their brands and prepare for growth into markets like Australia and New Zealand.
