Located as they
are in some of the most beautiful
spots on the planet, many of these
areas are already well-known resort
destinations for American and
Asian tourists. There is, however,
still plenty of room for growth.
Opportunities for a variety of
large-scale projects abound. This
session will highlight some of
the many opportunities throughout
the insular areas.
Mr. W. Nicholas Captain
President, The Captain Company and Captain Realty Advisors
Ms.
Lynn Knight
Chairwoman, Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands
Mr. Phillip Reklai
Chairman of the Board, Palau Visitors Authority
PROJECT
DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
There are many
organizations, Federal and local,
private and public, that are available
to help businesses that are thinking
about expanding into new markets
and new investments. These include
Federal agencies, such as the
Overseas Private Investment Corporation,
U.S. Department of Agriculture
and Minority Business Development
Agency, as well as government-sponsored
non-profit organizations, like
local Small Business Development
Centers. This panel will explore
some of those tools, which include
both actual financing and also
counseling, advocacy, and networking.
SPEAKERS & BIOS
Dr. Failautusi Avegalio Director, Pacific Business Center Program
Mr.
Casey Jeszenka Director, Pacific Small Business Development Center Network
Mr.
Joe Diego Area Director, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Mr.
Jon Anderson Loan Officer, Director of Public Relations Bridge Capital CNMI
INDUSTRY
SESSIONS PROGRESS REPORT: WHAT'S
NEW ON THE GUAM BUILD-UP
The Joint Guam
Program Office and the Navy Facilities
Command will be using the 2007
Conference on Business Opportunities
in the Islands as its second of
a series of industry sessions
that it will hold on the planned
shifts of U.S. forces to Guam.
This session will review some
of the developments stemming from
the first industry session, which
was also held on Guam, at the
end of August.
The insular areas, even more than the rest of the United States, have felt the pinch of rising fuel costs, and all are aggressively seeking technologies and sources of financing for long-term investments aimed at reducing their consumption of fossil fuels and lowering energy costs overall. This panel is intended to highlight some of the technologies available and the steps that the islands are or may be planning to take to acquire more energy-efficient systems.
SPEAKERS & BIOS
Mr. Tony
Neil Executive Director, Pacific Power Association
The speakers in
this panel are all successful
business owners, and each represents
a different jurisdiction. The
will spend a lot of time discussing
the myriad opportunities and incentives
for doing business in the U.S.-affiliated
insular areas, as well as the
pitfalls and obstacles. It is
useful to hear from those who
have done business in the islands
- businesspeople not from the
islands that started successful
ventures across the Pacific.
Mr. Mark Erwin President and CEO, Continental Micronesia
Mr.
Ron Simpson Manager, FAA Airports District Office, Honolulu
Ms. Charlotte Vick Director of Administration, Texas House of Representatives; Common Heritage Corporation Board Member; Earhart Discovery Team Logistics Team
DIVE,
ADVENTURE, AND SMALL-SCALE TOURISM
OPPORTUNITIES
Palau, Truk in
the Federated States of Micronesia,
and Bikini in the Republic of
the Marshall Islands already boast
world-renowned dive locations;
every single one of the other
insular areas offer similar spectacular,
unique, and unspoiled beauty.
These areas are also popular as
destinations for other types of
tourism as well, such as sports
fishing and other sorts of eco-tourism.
This panel will highlight the
offerings in each area.
Mr.
John Heather Senior Partner, Isla Solutions
Tourism Consulting
The Honorable Alex Jennings Representative, The Fono
Ms.
Tova Harel-Bornovski General Manager, Fish 'N Fins Palau; Owner, Ocean Hunter I and II; President, Micronesian Shark Foundation
MAJOR
DEVELOPMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE
This panel is
intended to explore the many opportunities
that do and will exist for heavy
infrastructure work in the Pacific
insular areas. Each of these areas
will be undertaking heavy infrastructure
work over the next ten years,
both upgrading and replacing their
existing power, water, and telecommunications
systems, as well as many other
tasks. This essential work presents
some of the largest opportunities
in all of the islands.
Mr. Tom Bussanich Director of Budget and Grants
Management, Office of Insular
Affairs, U.S. Department of the
Interior
Mr. Simon Sanchez Director, Consolidated Commission
on Utilities
Mr. Tony Guerrero Director, Commonwealth Utilities Corporation CNMI
Mr. Robert A. Westerfield, III, P.E. Contracting Officers' Representative, Department Of Transportation, Communications and Infrastructure FSM National Government
ISLAND PRODUCTS
The islands produce some of the most unique products on the planet, from health supplements to fresh pepper to designer-label spring water, from black pearls to farm-raised aquarium clams. Many also produce distinctive artifacts - American Samoa and Palau produce some of the most distinctive carved wood products on the planet. This panel will discuss existing products, new developments, and opportunities for importers to work directly with producers.
The military construction on Guam is creating a large demand for training and apprenticeship programs in construction and other related trades. There is also an increasing demand for additional decree and certification programs across the region. This panel will explore these opportunities.
SPEAKERS & BIOS
Dr. Failautusi Avegalio Director, Pacific Business Center Program
GOVERNMENT
& PRIVATE FINANCING OPTIONS
FOR LARGE-SCALE INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS
Finding financing is
a challenge for businesses and
governments alike, but it also
presents an area of opportunity.
All four territories and all three
freely associated states have
a wide variety of large-scale
infrastructure projects on the
drawing boards. Financing these
projects will present challenges,
but also opportunities; this panel
will explore the various tools
available and the opportunities
they offer.
The Defense Commissary Agency is one of the biggest purchasers/retailers of consumer goods in the U.S., serving locations around the world. The demand for business in the region is likely to jump with the expansion on Guam. Mr. Scott Simpson, the regional director, will describe the opportunities that his agency provides.
TAX,
TRADE & BUSINESS INCENTIVES
IN THE FREELY ASSOCIATED ASSOCITATES
By virtue of their
special relationship with the
United States of America, both
the territories and the freely
associated states offer some unique
tax, trade, and other business
incentives. Each, however, is
different; this session will include
representatives of most of the
insular areas, to discuss the
basics of their incentives.
Mr. Anthony
Blaz Director, Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority
10:15 AM
BUSINESS
ROUNDTABLE
The aspeakers
in this panel are all succcessful
business owners, and each represents
a different jurisdicition. The
will spend a lot of time discussing
the myriad opportunties and incentives
for doing business in the U.S.-affiliated
insular areas, as well as the
pitfalls and obstacles. It is
useful to hear from those who
have done business in the islands
- businesspeople not from the
islands that started successful
ventures across the Pacific.
