CNMI prepares ‘better’ presentation for DOI conference

The CNMI is confident that it would deliver a better business presentation in the upcoming annual conference sponsored by the Department of the Interior, citing greater consultation with the private sector this time compared to last year.

“The difference is that we have this opportunity to seek consultation with the private sector. I’d say there’s a greater participation from the private sector. We hope it’s better this year,” said the governor’s special assistant for special projects, Galvin Guerrero.

He said the administration has been actively working with concerned industry representatives and the Office of the Insular Affairs in preparing for the Sept. 23-24, 2004 business conference to be held in Los Angeles.

Based on the conference website: www.businessopportunitiesconference.com, this year’s topics include travel and tourism, ocean resources, infrastructure, fisheries, education, high technology, and more.

The DOI said the conference aims to provide “win-win opportunities for the mainland and the islands.”

It boasts of conference speakers that include governors of the territories and presidents of island nations, high-level federal representatives of business, trade, and export businesses, and “successful business people from across the U.S. and the islands.”

“We invite you to take advantage of this unique opportunity to meet business and government leaders from the islands and the mainland U.S., and learn about the myriad of business opportunities available in each island area,” DOI said.

Last year, it said the conference attracted over 500 participants from 33 states and territories and six foreign nations.

This year, it expects to host over 600 participants from diverse business sectors in the islands and the 50 states.

The DOI changed the conference this year—from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles—in efforts to gather more investors with established business ties in the region.

Further, Freely Associated States like the Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia will attend this year’s conference, for the first time.

During the Sept. 2003 investment conference in Washington D.C., only the CNMI, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa participated.

DOI has cited that investors can look forward to more activities in these islands given the availability of federal funds in the next several years.

It cited contracting opportunities arising from the $3.5 billion that will be made available to the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia over the next 20 years for health, education, environmental protection and other infrastructure development.

The CNMI, for instance, receives millions of dollars out of the $30 million Compact Impact annual appropriation beginning this year and every year over the next 20 years.

“You will meet governors of the territories, the presidents of the Freely Associated States, representatives of several Chambers of Commerce, and officials from federal trade and development agencies. Through them, you will learn about the tools that are at your disposal to grow your business upward and outward to the Caribbean and the Pacific,” said the department.

The annual project is a project of DOI Secretary Gale Norton.