Business

This was according to Saipan airport manager Ed Mendiola when asked by the Variety recently. “Any additional airlines would mean additional airline seats that would bring in additional flights to the CNMI, and that would mean more tourists and visitors coming here,” Mendiola said. Currently, only e…

The restaurant staffers have their hands full as customers flocked in, filling tables and waiting for other customers to finish so they could take their turns. Throughout the lunch hour, a steady stream of diners from all walks of life filed in so that orders took a little bit longer in coming, but…

“When the tourism numbers go down, we go down like all the other businesses that are dependent on tourism and that has been happening for the past years,” said Saipan City Taxi Association founder Rabby Syed, a taxi driver for the past 10 years now. He said one of the factors why the tourist number…

CNMI-SBDC Director Gary Liddle said during the recent Saipan Chamber of Commerce meeting that the center will help business owners see their businesses in a new and different light that they have not seen before. “We have over 20 different workshops that we can customize to address and fit the spec…

Dela Cruz said “the economy of the CNMI has taken a ‘dive’ for at least five years now, and rather than improving, the recession we have been in has actually gotten worse.” “What do we have to sell here? We need to sell stuff to get the economy rolling but there is a dearth of entrepreneurs,” he sa…

The Skechers outlet opened its doors to the public on July 2. Gabriel F. Boyer, president of Skechers Saipan, said the Skechers Concept Outlet is the first and only outlet in the Marianas, with the nearest other outlet located in Hawaii. Boyer said  he has been distributing Skechers footwear from  …

Based on the latest report from the Commonwealth Auto Dealers Association, the three car dealers on island sold only a total of 34 brand new cars last month. The dealers sold 42 cars in June 2009. Last month’s car sales included 18 sedans, 7 trucks, 1 van and 8 sport utility vehicles. Microl Corp. …

Food sales have been “super slow” this year compared to the past, according to some food vendors. The “first timers” among them say if sales stay as slow as they are, this may be their last time to participate in the annual event. Gerard Olaes of Jologs Barbeque & Catering said a few people hav…

This was based on the regional fish data statistics from the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration updated on Dec. 31, 2009. The CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife estimated annual commercial landings reported a total of 555,698 pounds in 19…

Dr. Claret Ruane, resident development economist of the University of Guam-Pacific Center for Economic Initiatives and associate professor of economics and finance, School of Business and Public Administration told the Variety in an e-mail that participation has not been that good yet, with less th…