‘CNMI’s autonomy an advantage for fresh investors’

The CNMI’s autonomous immigration and wage systems are unique advantages that would attract investors, according to Interior Deputy Secretary-designee P. Lynn Scarlett who is leading a two-day business mission to the CNMI.

“All western islands share certain commonalities but Saipan [CNMI] has a particular advantage of the special immigration and wage laws, which give them opportunities in manufacturing and other economic activities that are distinctive,” said Scarlett in an interview yesterday.

Scarlett said that companies usually look at a variety of factors when they locate in a particular place or country.

“That includes safety and security, and the presence of U.S. military out here is very helpful,” she said.

Investors, she said, also look for people that have skills and education.

“Having an educated populace is helpful but I think that things like the tax climate, wage climate can also be an additional factor. I think the particular special immigration and wage climate of the CNMI gives companies opportunities to invest and compete,” she said.

Scarlett arrived Monday night on Saipan, together with assistant deputy secretary David B. Cohen, Interior economic advisor Angela Williams and staff. The DOI team brought along business executives from 15 U.S.-based companies, who are reportedly considering to expand their businesses to the CNMI, Guam, and Palau.

The delegation first stopped by Guam. From Saipan, the group will proceed to Palau.

The participants in the Business Opportunities Mission to the Pacific include big names such as Hilton Hotel Corp., University of Southern California, and Bridgecreek Development International.

Hilton Hotels Corp. and Hilton International, which are based in Beverly Hills, California, operate over 2,500 hotels worldwide and 500 under the Hilton brand.

University of Southern California Marshall School of Business, meantime, is ranked among the top 30 business schools in the U.S.

Bridgecreek has reportedly developed properties valued at over $420 million in the U.S., China, and Vietnam.

Other companies are into high-end tourism, technology, education and healthcare, and environmental technology. They are Air 2 water, Argosy University out of Hawaii, Common Heritage Corp., Digital Mediums/Hirez Network, DOER Marine, Express Electronics, Global General Technologies, L&L Financial Holdings Corp., Nekton Diving Cruises, Overseas Private Investment Corp., Pleasant Care Corp, and Unified Western Grocers.

Among them, only Pleasant Care, which owns 50 convalescent hospitals in California and Nevada, has decided to focus its business in the CNMI. The company did not participate on Guam and will not join the Palau trip.