By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

WESTERN Micronesian chief executives concluded their three-day regional summit yesterday with the resolve to strengthen their workforce, economy and energy sufficiency through unified approaches.
CNMI Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, Palau President Tommy Remengesau and Guam Gov. Felix Camacho, also agreed to “invite” the Marshall Islands as well as Chuuk, Kosrae and Pohnpei of the Federated States of Micronesia to join them in future summits.
They also agreed that the host island will be allowed to hold two summits every year.
As the current host, the CNMI can hold another summit in July.
The CNMI, Guam, Palau and the FSM’s Yap are members of the Western Micronesian Chief Executives Summit.
Yap Gov. Sebastian Anefal was unable to attend this year’s summit due to an emergency situation in his state.
During the recently concluded summit, the Micronesian leaders signed several communiqués regarding plans to strengthen regional cooperation on solid waste, invasive species, renewable energy, transportation, health, tourism, workforce investment, zoning and the Micronesia Challenge.
They also recommended implementing “Innovation Micronesia” — a program focusing on strengthening the region’s workforce amid the anticipated military build-up on Guam with the relocation of 8,000 U.S. Marines from Japan.