Consultants follow up on DOI’s trade mission

Following the economic summit held last month in the CNMI, two consultants are on the island for a follow-up on the possibility of bringing more U.S. mainland businesses to the Commonwealth.

Lopa Shah, a consultant from the U.S. Department of the Interior and PBCP Islands Fellows Program, is on the island since June 16 for a follow up on the trade mission that was held in May.

She said during the weekly Saipan Rotary Club meeting Tuesday that her objective is to update any developments on the discussions and talks held during the economic summit.

She said she would be busy meeting with several members of the business community until July 2 to determine investment possibilities in the CNMI.

Some 15 investors representing companies engaged in diverse industries assembled at the Hyatt Regency Saipan last month for the 2005 Business Opportunities Mission sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

A company that taps water from humidity to solve the CNMI’s water needs, the world-renowned Hilton International, and a California firm that seeks to establish a nursing school on Saipan were some of the prospective businesses that attended the summit to assess local business opportunities. The other companies that participated in the mission were in construction, software manufacturing, satellite communications, wholesale, and financing, among other industries.

Michelle L. Clark, business development specialist, is also on the island. She said she has been visiting Saipan to assist small business entrepreneurs in the CNMI. Clark said she has been meeting with the small-scale investors.

She said she is on the island to help investors with operational analysis such as helping them with their financial and other business plans like feasibility studies, joint venture assistance, loan packaging, management consulting, market research, product development, and supplier identification.

Clark said she is connected with the Pacific Business Center Program of the University of Hawaii and the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce with a mission to help island economies adapt resources of the university to support Pacific Island economic, business and community development, in a manner that builds local island capacity.

She said any interested business prospect could contact her through the office of the Commonwealth Development Authorities for assistance with their businesses.