Newly installed CNMI Small Business Development Center director Gary Liddle, who was yesterday’s guest at the Saipan Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Hyatt, said the islands’ the economic problems could be solved if the government and the business community would focus on long-term plans.
“We tend to look at short-term goals. We change leadership every few years but if we plan long-term, we can establish things better,” Liddle said.
Citing the high shipping costs to transport different products to the islands, Liddle said this is a situation that should have been addressed years ago.
He said there are a lot of under-developed resources on island that could be tapped to promote business and tourism in the CNMI.
One of the important ingredients of success is to have a partnership between the business community and the government, he added.
“We are here to help you see your business in a different light, and help you with business expansions, management, processing of loan applications and to correct what needs to be corrected, and more,” Liddle said.
They are now in the process of putting up a small library and a computer laboratory to help their clients.
“We are connected with other SBDC networks in the Pacific and the mainland,” he said.
