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Norton joins over 700 in L.A. business confab
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Posted on Sep 23 2004
LOS ANGELES—Over 700 businesspeople, island heads of state and governors will convene here today to promote “win-win” opportunities for the U.S. mainland and the islands in the 2nd Annual Department of the Interior Conference on Business Opportunities on the islands.
The conference will showcase trade and investment opportunities in the U.S. territories of Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and the freely associated states of Palau, Marshall Islands, and Federated States of Micronesia.
The conference is being held at the Los Angeles Marriott today and tomorrow.
Among those present at the business conference are Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton as keynote speaker, Marshall Islands President Kessai Note, Federated States of Micronesia Vice President Redley Killion, U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Charles Turnbull, Northern Mariana Islands Gov. Juan Babauta, Guam Gov. Felix Camacho, American Samoa Gov. Togiola Tulafono, and Rear Admiral Arthur Johnson, Commander of the U.S. Naval Forces-Marianas.
The conference is expected to draw over 700 people, including executives from leading U.S. businesses, and public and private sector island officials spearheading numerous investment and trade initiatives.
Among the topics to be discussed: Compact II, recently re-negotiated between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, which includes over $3 billion in funding over 20 years; military contracting opportunities in the Pacific; other government programs that can lead to contracting opportunities; private sector opportunities; financing.
The Department of the Interior is quick to point out, though, that its role is to facilitate interaction and the exchange of information that might lead to business activity and not to endorse or promote any specific project.
Information on the conference can be had at www.BusinessOpportunitiesConference.com.
