Asunton Koñgresso

For the first time in recent history, a powerful member of the Japanese Diet (Japan’s national legislative body the equivalence of the US Congress) vows to assist the Northern Marianas revive its sagging tourism industry in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Senior Diet member Tokuo Yamashita, before a joint legislative gathering here, pledged to help the NMI improve its tourism industry and also encourage more investments from Japan. He was former minister of transportation and health. He now heads the powerful transportation committee in the Japanese Diet.

In his brief remarks, Yamashita pointed out that the NMI’s promotional efforts in Japan is “inadequate” and needs to regroup to map-out how this aspect is best handled by all concerns throughout Japan. His observation came as a surprise for policymakers having fueled promotional blitz in the millions of dollars in years past.

Said House Speaker Ben Fitial: “It’s an observation that warrants serious review so that positive changes would enable the NMI to capitalize on all that we may have missed in promoting these islands as a destination both during summer and winter months.”

“It’s a serious issue that requires new paradigms if we are to secure greater benefits to revive one of two major economic sector here,” Fitial said. “We have started the groundwork already to begin addressing the resolving the observations raised by Mr. Yamashita, including such issues as building lasting relationship with our friends from Japan.”

Fitial noted that Mr. Yamashita is most enthusiastic in the planned establishment of a joint legislative committee comprised of members from Japan and the NMI whose task would be to address and resolve issues of mutual concerns. “It’s a great opportunity not only to revive the tourism industry, but encourage other forms of investments as well.”

Said he: “It’s an opportunity to build upon much needed wealth and jobs creation”. The Speaker said he’s “tickled to death at the opportunity to work on both sides of the Pacific–Japan and East Asia where most of NMI’s investments come from and on Capitol Hill (US Congress) so vital in instilling investment stability in the islands”. Fitial said it is “quite a monumental task but nothing is going to stand in the way of rebuilding investment stability, therefore, prosperity for the NMI”.

A scheduled trip to Washington in early April with standing committee chairmen (House Leadership) “will give us the opportunity to meet with as many members of Congress so we persuade them to ensure that the basic tenets of the Covenant is respected which grants us both political and economic freedoms”.

He also noted the timely celebration of the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Japanese Entrepreneur Presidents’ Association, the brain child of former Governor Larry I. Guerrero. It’s an entrepreneurial body poised to work lasting investment relationships between the NMI and Japan.

Said the former governor: “We can’t live in the past nor swim in the sea of complacency. We have to be forward looking and pave a brighter future for our children. It involves understanding how to set in motion mechanisms to allow lasting investment relationship with the world’s second most economically powerful country to which we once had historical ties.” Guerrero was recently retained as special advisor to the House leadership.