Commerce attends Kuala Lumpur conference

The CNMI was represented after all in a regional business conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, said Commerce economic development analyst and press information officer Glen Manglona yesterday, noting that he himself attended it.

He said that, while the Commonwealth Development Authority failed to come, he was able to attend the annual conference of the Asian Development Finance Institution on Sept. 11 and 12 in Kuala Lumpur.

CDA board chair Tom Glenn Quitugua said last week that he and two other members did not make it to the Kuala Lumpur meeting due to concerns relating to the CNMI’s relations with the federal government. He said the trip was aborted due to issues “that needed to be ironed out with the U.S. State Department.”

He said that based on its Covenant with the United States, the CNMI cannot make direct bilateral transactions with foreign countries or bodies.

Manglona said that the annual conference was a private organization initiative that was attended by presidents and chief executive officers from various countries in Asia Pacific.

“This forum I believe is not an issue with the State Department. It’s a private international organization whose primary goal is to develop and promote small [and] medium enterprises in the Asia-Pacific. It has great importance in the development of SMEs in countries and islands as engines for economic growth,” said Manglona.

He said the gathering pulled together government and private entities to exchange ideas, examine business models and applications, improve exporting opportunities, and expand business networks.

In one of his meetings with participants, he said that he got an inquiry from a Malaysian-based manufacturer on the possibility of locating to the CNMI to be able to export to the U.S. mainland.

“They are excited about the CNMI. Malaysia, in particular is looking at the CNMI as a platform to export to the United States. They’re into the assembly of textile, hats, and shoes. They want to expand their market but they’re having a hard time exporting to the U.S.,” he said.

Manglona said he has submitted a report to the Commerce Secretary on economic development plans for the CNMI in relation to what he had learned from the conference.
(Liberty Dones)