Infrastructure, tourism, biz incentives

At least three members of the CNMI delegation to the Department of the Interior conference in Honolulu are scheduled to speak on infrastructure projects, tourism opportunities, and tools in doing business in the territory.

Head of delegation, acting Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez, will speak on “large infrastructure projects and other planned growth” during a breakout session on Nov. 13 .

The DOI conference, which will be convened by Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, is slated on Nov. 13-14 at the Waikiki Marriott in Honolulu.

Villagomez is expected to discuss the infrastructure needs of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to resolve the current power crisis. CUC executive director Anthony Guerrero will be present during the session.

Other speakers on infrastructure projects are Tom Ada, commissioner of Guam Consolidated Commission Utilities; Epel Itlon of Federated States of Micronesia’s Office of Compact Management; and May Adams Cornwall, executive director of Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority.

CNMI delegate Lynn Knight, chairwoman of the Hotel Association of Northern Mariana Islands, will speak during breakout session 1 on hotel, resort, time share, and other tourism opportunities.

Knight is expected to discuss the investment opportunities in the CNMI hotel and tourism industries in view of the administration’s goal to bring in one million tourists annually within five years.

Other presenters are Maderson Ramon, assistant secretary of the FSM Department of Economic Affairs, and Nicolas Captain, president of The Captain Co.

Sen. Maria Frica Pangelinan is among the speakers to discuss “tools for doing business in the islands” on Nov. 14 at 8am.

The DOI said session speakers would discuss the basics of their uniqueness as a business destination.

With Pangelinan are Andy Jordanou, acting administrator of Guam Development and Commerce Authority and senior fiscal advisor to the governor; Faleseu Eliu Paopao, director of American Samoa Department of Commerce; and Frank Schulterbrandt, CEO of Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority.

On Nov. 14 at 10:30am, a business roundtable will be held, featuring speakers such as Robert Jones, president and CEO of Triple J Saipan, as well as Ricky Delgado, chairman of Pacific Telecom Inc.

With them in the group as moderator is Orson Swindle, senior policy advisor and chairman of Information Security Projects, Center for Information Policy Leadership, Hunton and Williams LLP; Tom Drabble, CEO of Dateline Industries; Bill Naville, president of USViking; Jerry Kramer, president of Pacific International Inc.; and Kassi Berg, executive director of Roll ‘Em Productions.

Other breakout topics include Cruise & Leisure Destination Development, Business Support Services-Locations & Opportunities, Transportation-Existing & Growth Opportunities, Military Procurement Opportunities, Aquaculture opportunities, IT broadband capacity and planned development opportunities, Renewable Energy Developments, agriculture and other island products, hospital and healthcare services, dive & adventure tourism, government and private financing options for large scale projects, and trade & tax incentives in the territories and FAS.

The business conference will be attended by government heads from the islands: Gov. Linda Lingle of Hawaii; Mufi Hannemann, mayor of Honolulu; Lt. Gen. Daniel Leaf, Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Command; President Tommy Remengesau of Palau; President Kessai Note, Republic of Marshall Islands; President Joseph Urusemal, Federated States of Micronesia; Gov. Togiola Tulafono, American Samoa; Gov. Felix Camacho, Guam; and other leaders from all seven U.S.-affiliated insular areas.