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CNMI ‘positive’ about DOI conference
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Posted on Nov 20 2006
Commerce Secretary James Santos described as “productive” the CNMI delegation’s recent trip to Hawaii to attend the Department of the Interior-sponsored business conference, citing that he met with about 25 investors who showed interest in the CNMI.
None, however, expressed serious intent to actually locate in the CNMI just yet.
“They’ve expressed interest in doing business in the Commonwealth. I’ve met with several investors on the hallway and during our one-on-one meetings. There’s interest,” said Santos in an interview yesterday.
He said one of the five companies he met with is interested in the automotive business while the rest had interests in “general business,” including services.
“Hopefully they’ll come here. I’d say the conference has been fruitful. There is no one that’s seriously pursuing a business here. But I’m positive about it. The fact that they went to Hawaii for the investment conference is an indication that they are seriously looking at the islands,” said Santos.
He said the conference was a good venue to spread the word about the CNMI.
“Whenever you make promotions, you can’t really expect to get an immediate response. But we were able to put the information out,” said Santos.
He said other CNMI agencies had also met with other potential investors.
The Commonwealth Utilities Corp., for instance, met with companies engaged in power and utilities.
He said the Commerce Department alone distributed over 500 materials or packages about CNMI businesses.
The CNMI government delegation consisted of at least 32 members.
The DOI conference was held at the Marriott Waikiki Hotel on Nov. 13-14. [I][B](Liberty Dones)
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