By Bernadette H. Carreon
Horizon news staff

The New Melekeok State Building officially opened on Friday giving rise to a more modern edifice.
President Remengesau led the ribbon cutting ceremony and Taiwan Ambassador to Palau Matthew S. Lee held in Melekeok State.
The new edifice was partially financed through a grant from the Taiwan government and the national government.
The newly built building will house the employees and members of the Melekeok State government.
Ambassador Lee in his remarks during the ceremony said that the project is one of the sign of brotherhood between Palau and Taiwan.
"A friend in need is a friend indeed, and let us keep working together," Lee said
Construction of the building begun April 2004 and was completed May 2006.
The state capitol is now a two-storey building and was completed a few months after the seat of government official transferred in Melekeok in October.
The building amounted to $225,000 and was constructed by Hanpa Construction.
President Remengesau, Paramount Chief Raphael Ngirmang, House Speaker Augustine Mesebeluu and Resources and Development Minister Fritz Koshiba and Melekeok State Governor Lazarus Kodep participated in the ribbon cutting to open the building and get it ready for occupancy.