GOVERNOR Juan N. Babauta and Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio yesterday met with the consuls of Japan, Palau and the Philippines to discuss next month’s talks on economic and cultural cooperation among Asian and Pacific nations.
The first ever CNMI Consuls General Summit Conference will be held in May, it was learned. The summit will discuss tourism, the importation of goods, exchange programs in education, labor policies, investment opportunities, medical training and referral and agricultural training.
“The summit will help us better understand vital issues involving not only the commonwealth but our neighboring nations as well, “ Babauta said.
Tenorio said the summit will be a “historic meeting” that will help boost the region’s economies.
Besides Japan, Palau and the Philippines, the other accredited consuls general to the CNMI are from the Federated States of Micronesia, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Germany. They will also be invited to the summit.
Japan Consul Takeo Saito, Palau Consul Eileen N. Kintol, Philippine Consul General Julia C. Heidmann and Palau’s honorary consul, former House Speaker Joe Lifoi, attended yesterday’s meeting.
Babauta said the summit will result in the signing of a memorandum of agreement similar to the accord reached by the U.S. Department of Commerce and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation. (See story on page 6)
Heidemann said she will propose more economic and trade missions.
The Philippine government, she added, will also ask the U.S. to amend its current policy restricting the entry to America of the citizens from 67 nations, which include the Philippines.
Heidemann is hoping that legitimate Filipino businessmen and investors are exempted from the current policy, which requires the citizens of these 67 nations to possess an authorization to board before entering the CNMI.
Kintol said aside from tourism, issues concerning labor policies should also be discussed.
The Philippine ambassador to Washington, D.C., Alberto del Rosario, will attend the summit which will coincide with his visit to the commonwealth.
Del Rosario will also visit Guam and Hawaii.
To cap the summit, Babauta will sign the CNMI-Philippine Friendship Week proclamation to coincide with the June 12 Philippine Independence Day celebrations.
