Director General Jerry S. Chang of the Taiwan Economic & Cultural Office of Hawaii and CNMI Sen. Celina R. Babauta in Hawaii.
Contributed photo
HONOLULU — CNMI Senator Celina Babauta met with Director General Jerry S. Chang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office or TECO in Honolulu, Hawaii on July 2, 2025, to discuss reinforcing economic and educational relations between Taiwan and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on a broader scale.
The meeting, held over lunch in Honolulu, reflects Senator Babauta’s ongoing efforts to cultivate regional partnerships that can diversify the CNMI economy and improve quality of life for our residents.
She centered on identifying and expanding mutually beneficial investment opportunities in bilateral trade and leveraging the CNMI’s Jones Act waiver, favorable tax structure, tariff-exempt status and the recently signed, Captive Insurance bill, to entice investors to the CNMI. Senator Babauta emphasized the CNMI’s advantageous policies in its Covenant and untapped economic potential, while expressing appreciation for Taiwan’s continued friendship.
“This conversation builds on our shared values and opens the door for our tourism industry to flourish with a focused promotion in Taiwan that can benefit our economy, and ultimately, our people,” said Senator Babauta. “I am deeply committed to cultivating our CNMI-Taiwan relationship for the long haul and these conversations helps to amplify the unique advantages of our tariff-exempt status through Headnote 3(a) of the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule.”
She added, “The CNMI has reaped economic benefits from such status in the 1980s with its lucrative garment industry in the Northern Mariana Islands, particularly on Saipan, and was once known for producing clothing for major U.S. brands, including Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Polo, Ralph Lauren, and Liz Claiborne. Additionally, retailers like The Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch, Sears, Nordstrom, and Target also sourced clothing from the CNMI. I will be working more closely with TECO to support long-term investment development and educational exchange in the CNMI.”
Director General Chang welcomed the dialogue and affirmed TECO’s commitment to extending partnerships with Pacific Island communities, including the CNMI and suggested that perhaps Taiwan could support the CNMI’s tourism industry by promoting tourism to the CNMI in Taiwan. “Thank you for your fondness of Taiwan. Perhaps we can send tourists to Saipan,” said Director General Chang.
