Kiribati - Head of Government

His Excellency Mr Anote Tong is serving his second term in office as President of Kiribati following his victory in the October 2007 presidential election. He first took office in July 2003 as the country’s fourth President. Mr Tong is concurrently Minister of External Affairs and Immigration.

He was Member of Parliament and a senior member of the Boutokaan Te Koaua Party from 1996 to 2003, and was re-elected in the August 2007 parliamentary election.

Mr Tong previously served as Minister for Natural Resources Development from 1994 to 1996. He was appointed Secretary for the Ministry of Communication and Works from 1980 to 1982, and was Senior Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Education from 1976 to 1977.

Mr Tong has been Chairperson of the National Fishing Company, the Development Bank of Kiribati, Otintai Hotel and Air Tungaru Co-operative.

He has a Master’s degree in Economics from the London School of Economics, UK, and a Bachelor’s degree in Science from the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.