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JEPA vows to organize business mission to NMI
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Posted on Mar 20 2000
In a move to help the CNMI recover from the economic slump, the head of the Japan Entrepreneurs and Presidents Association has pledged to organize an investment mission to the CNMI to look into business opportunities on the island.
According to Tsuneo Shimoji, the Northern Marianas has a huge potential of attracting businessmen who are planning to set up a retirement haven for Japanese.
Mr. Shimoji cited Hawaii as an example where a retirement village for Japanese has been established. But he said the CNMI must offer incentives in order to lure new investors.
With 16,000 members in Japan, both from the private and public sectors, JEPA may soon open its office in Saipan to facilitate the entry of Japanese businessmen in the CNMI.
He met with members of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce and the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands during his four-day visit. Mr. Shimoji founded JEPA in 1977 to mobilize support for small- to medium-sized businesses.
“As a long standing supporter of the Northern Mariana Islands tourist industry, we are hoping that we will be able to assist you in many ways,” he said.
Members of JEPA are committed to help the CNMI in its effort to regain economic development. JEPA is affiliated with 48,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises, 800 large corporations and 5,600 overseas enterprises.
At the same time, he wants to help reorganize the Japan/CNMI Parliamentary League of Friendship which would help build stronger relations between Japan and the Northern Marianas.
“The Japanese leaders can help in lobbying efforts to increase flights to the CNMI,” he said.
While they will try to entice investors to come to the island, Mr. Shimoji said the CNMI should carry out more promotions to improve its image in Japan.
“Saipan is much nearer to Japan than Hawaii so I don’t see any reason why Japanese will not come here. It’s just a matter of improving the image of the CNMI,” he said.
