Tatiana S. Ilmova, a native of Vladivostok, Russia and vice president of Union of Professionals, which runs Island Bath and Ceramics on Middle Road, was among those who attended the economic restoration summit at the Saipan World Resort last week.
She joined the group that discussed edu-tourism. The other groups focused on agriculture, aquaculture, call centers and eco-tourism.
In an interview, she said her company plans to work with the CNMI government in its effort to develop edu-tourism in the commonwealth.
She said she is interested in an education program for foreign students, particularly those from her country.
“I think it has a very good potential. Foreign students can pursue education here and have friends while living here,” she added.
Ilmova, who has been doing business in the CNMI for years now, said she can help Russian students learn English here.
She said she recognizes that investors from Russia and China are facing uncertainties under federal immigration rules.
She hopes that the federal and commonwealth governments “will soon have a solution” to this problem.
The things that are going on right now, Ilmova said, are not good for investors like her “because we don’t know what things will be like tomorrow.”
She added, “We hope the government will make a decision that will help us stay here and continue to invest our money on this island.”
