Marshall Islands' President Reports Private Sector Progress

During his May trip to Taiwan, President Kessai Note met with airlines executives, shipbuilding companies, and university representatives to discuss mutual interests and the exchange of business. He said, that if planned accordingly, the addition of these businesses to the Marshall Islands would improve the local economy. “The local economy and private sectors would benefit greatly,” said Note.

The tourism industry and the International Registries Incorporated (IRI) are major contributors to the local economy. Thus if the two areas increase their business we will see increases in our local economy and other business opportunities for local companies, he said. For example, should China Airlines fly to Majuro, it will open up business opportunities to the local communities not only in Majuro, but other Islands in terms of meeting tourist demands for hotels, shops, diving, fishing and other areas. This is progress for our private sector, reported the President's Office.

Meetings with top businesses in Taipei and other cities included:

• Taiwan National University—RMI Foreign Minister Gerald M. Zackios met with the University to discuss the exchange of notes between RMI and ROC doctors. The University would also send doctors to the RMI for duration of one to two years. Zackios emphasized that the other possibilities would be for the University to provide scholarships to Marshallese students interested in the medical field. The talks will now commence between the University and the RMI Ministry of Health through the ambassadors from both countries.

• China and Mandarin Airlines—Talks between the President and China and Mandarin Airlines’ chairman on sending a survey team to the RMI was very positive. If successful, China Airlines would begin flights between Taiwan and the RMI while Mandarin Airlines would support Air Marshall Islands on its domestic flights. More follow up meetings are currently being planned.

• Ship Building Companies—Dragon Ship Building Ltd.; Ching Fu Shipbuilding Company and Taiwan Navigation—The Ship companies showed interest in changing or come under the RMI flag. Minister Zackios acknowledged that the opportunity would strengthen the Marshall Trust Company should the ship companies decide to do so. Ching Fu Shipbuilding is currently planning on building a floating dry-dock in Majuro while Taiwan Navigation has initiated the process to register its ships under the RMI flag.

• Hualien District Agriculture Improvement Station—President Note and delegation took a tour in the farm areas and exchanged notes on how to improve the farming situations in the RMI.

Minister Zackios added that informing the private sector of the progresses in Taiwan would be the next step in the process. “We will see to it that the private sector is informed of these progresses,” said Zackios. “The most important thing now is to work alongside and support the private sector in the process.”

RMI Ambassador to the ROC, Alex Bing, Ambassador to the RMI Lien-Gene Chen and the President’s staffs accompanied President Note and Minister Zackios during the meetings.

The meetings followed the Inauguration Ceremony for Republic of China’s (ROC) President, Chen Shui-bian. President Note met with President Chen, and the two Presidents reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to their bilateral relationship.