The Consulate-General of the Kingdom of Tonga in Portugal is pleased to announce that it has become the first Pacific nation to be represented within the Associação do Corpo Consular do Porto (ACCP), further strengthening Tonga’s presence and visibility in northern Portugal.
Anthony Bailey, Hon Consul-General of His Majesty The King of Tonga to the Portuguese Republic, has been admitted as an Associate Member of the Association. This marks an important milestone in the development of relations between the Kingdom of Tonga and Portugal’s second city.
Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Porto, the ACCP brings together members of the consular corps accredited in Portugal whose consular jurisdictions are located across northern and central Portugal. The Association promotes friendship, cooperation, mutual assistance and dialogue among consular representatives while maintaining close relations with local and regional authorities throughout the region.
Porto occupies a position of particular importance within Portugal. With a metropolitan population of approximately 1.7 million people, it is the principal economic, commercial and cultural centre of northern Portugal and one of the country’s leading international gateways. Renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage historic centre, world-famous port wine industry, universities, maritime heritage and growing innovation sector, Porto plays a vital role in Portugal’s engagement with the wider world.
The Hon Consul-General last visited Porto in March 2026, undertaking a programme of meetings and engagements in the city. The visit further demonstrated Porto’s importance as Portugal’s principal northern economic, commercial and cultural centre and reinforced the value of strengthening Tonga’s presence and engagement in the region through participation in the Association.
Through its membership of the ACCP, the Consulate-General looks forward to promoting greater awareness of the Kingdom of Tonga throughout northern Portugal and exploring opportunities for cooperation in the fields of trade, tourism, education, culture, oceans and sustainable development.
The Consulate-General also wishes to inform Tongan citizens and visitors that, should they be travelling to Porto or the surrounding region, it remains at their disposal to assist with local information, contacts and programme planning through the valuable relationships established via its membership of the Association.
Further information regarding the Association of the Consular Corps of Porto may be found at https://accp.org.pt/, while information regarding the Kingdom of Tonga’s representation within the Association may be found on the Association’s dedicated Tonga page at https://accp.org.pt/consulados/reino-de-tonga/.
This appointment further reinforces Tonga’s commitment to maintaining an active and visible presence throughout all regions of Portugal while strengthening ties between the Kingdom and one of Europe’s most dynamic Atlantic cities.
