Legislators off to Japan for investment mission

A group of CNMI officials and lawmakers is flying today to Tokyo to meet with Japanese officials and lawmakers in an effort to boost economic ties and bring more investments into the Northern Marianas.

“I hope this trip will produce some economic benefits for the CNMI,” House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial told reporters in an interview with reporters yesterday.

He said Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio will head the delegation that also includes members of the Legislature. The group is expected to return on Friday.

Among those scheduled to take part in the three-day visit are House Commerce and Tourism Committee chair Rep. Bobby T. Guerrero, Federal and Foreign Relations Committee chair Rep. Norman S. Palacios and Rep. Malua T. Peter.

It was not known whether the Senate will send its representatives.

The trip is part of the Japan/CNMI Parliament League Associations and is a response to the invitation extended by Japanese lawmakers and officials who visited Saipan last March.

According to House leaders, the CNMI delegation is scheduled to meet with officials of Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as Ministry of Transportation, members of the Japanese parliament Diet and businessmen while in Tokyo.

Two of the highlights during the three-day visit are the separate meetings with Diet member Junzou Iwasaki and Tsuneo Shimoji, chairman of Japanese Entrepreneur President’s Association.

A Diet member, Tokuo Yamashita, led the delegation from Tokyo that visited Saipan in March. It also included Mr. Shimoji. Their visit allowed both parties to discuss wide range of issues, including business and investment prospects.

Japan is the islands’ largest tourism market, comprising about 80 percent of total visitors to the CNMI each year. It has led in infusing capital here, with investments in hotels, tour agencies, retail and transportation.

The House has previously adopted a resolution endorsing the formation of the Japan/Northern Mariana Islands Parliamentary League of Friendship that will seek to strengthen relations between the two legislatures.

It will specifically promote the long-standing goodwill, friendship, social, economic and cultural bonds between the Japanese and CNMI peoples.

The league was created during the administration of former Gov. Larry I. Guerrero and its reactivation will allow the CNMI to seek assistance from JEPA which has more than 15,000 members to help the island in many sectors, including business and culture.