SAIPAN - Island leaders attending the 13th Micronesian Chief Executives’ Summit have pledged stronger regional cooperation to bring their islands to economic prosperity.
CNMI Gov. Benigno R. Fitial welcomed Marshall Islands President Jurelang Zedkaia, Federated States of Micronesia President Manny Mori, Kosrae Gov. William O. Tosie, Yap Gov. Sebastian Anefal, Chuuk Gov. Wesley Simina, Pohnpei Gov. John Ehsa, Guam Gov. Felix P. Camacho and Palau Minister for Resource Development and Tourism Harry Fritz who represented President Johnson Toribiong.
In his welcoming remarks, Fitial underscored the CNMI’s rich cultural and historical ties with Guam, Palau, the Marshalls as well as the FSM and its four states — Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap.
He said “maintaining regional alliance” will help sustain their islands’ needs in a rapidly changing 21st century.
He touted the CNMI’s goal of tapping geothermal energy from some of its volcanic islands to address its lingering problem with stable power supply.
Guam Gov. Felix Camacho, a founding member of the regional body, stressed that their goal is to lay the foundation for better times for the next generation of islanders.
“We’re looking after the next generation. All of you are visionaries. The future of Micronesia is in your hands….The ultimate goal is prosperity,” he said.
The summit continued with speakers from the military and the Federal Aviation Administration.
John Jackson of the Joint Guam Program Office and Gary Kuwabara, western regional director of the U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Economic Adjustment, discussed updates on military expansion assistance in the insular areas.
Ronnie Simpson, FAA manager for the Honolulu Airports District Office, talked about the airport improvement program in the region.
“All the leaders of Micronesia are in one room to discuss issues of mutual concern for the peoples of the northern Pacific,” Camacho said.
The three-day talks also focused on a number of issues including the formalized creation of the Guahan Job Corps Satellite Center.
The Pacific Workforce Directors Workgroup discussed the initiative with Micronesian leaders that serve as the starting point for a regional program specific to youth pre-apprenticeship recruitment.
The chief executives also considered the creation of a Micronesia Cruise Taskforce.
“As a group, we must work together to establish unified policies and balance the sensitivities of our cultures and laws to build what could be the next big industry for our region,” Camacho said. “Collaboratively, we can develop a strategy that harmonizes the region’s regulatory structures with the ultimate goal of marketing ‘Magnificent Micronesia’ in a way we have never seen before.”
