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Legislature to identify ways to restore economy
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Posted on Mar 26 2009
Members of the Legislature will be holding a working session today to discuss legislation that could help develop industries in the CNMI.
The planning session comes a week after the public and private sector had a similar session, and a week before the Economic Restoration Summit set for April 2 and 3.
“The idea is to take last week’s meeting and bring to the Legislature [today],” Commerce Secretary Michael Ada said. “The idea is to give them, to put the ball in their court, to have them contemplate and identify ways in which legislation or regulations they develop could assist these industries in development.”
The private sector drives business, but legislation develops industries by setting regulations and offering incentives, he added.
“[Today] is a critical session. I encourage the public to attend,” the official said. The session is from 1pm to 4:30pm at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.
At last week’s meeting, federalization, lack of flights and unreliable infrastructure were some of the challenges the public and business community said the CNMI faces as it tries to identify new industries to fuel the economy, including call centers, aquaculture, alternative energy and educational tourism.
The information will be taken and shared at the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs 2009 Conference on Business Opportunities in the Islands, which will be held in Honolulu on April 6 to 8.
