Friday, March 27, 2009

Department of the Interior Business Opportunities Conference

The most important conference helping businesses take advantage of exciting opportunities
in the U.S. territories and in nations in "free association" with the United States, is back in Honolulu!

REGISTER TODAY!
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s
Fifth Conference on Business Opportunities in the Islands
April 6-8 2009
Sheraton Waikiki

Among the Featured Speakers
Lee Webber, President and Publisher, Honolulu Advertiser, and Chamber Board Member
Dr. Richard Kelley, Chairman of the Board, Outrigger Enterprises

The agenda is set,
Lt. General Wallace "Chip" Gregson, USMC (Ret)., Former Commander, Marine Forces Pacific,
Dr. Stephen Schneider of Stanford University, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice President Al Gore and a team of climatologists in 2007.

Also Confirmed
President Manny Mori of the Federated States of Micronesia ,
President Litokwa Tomeing of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Governor Felix Camacho of Guam
Governor Benigno Fitial of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Governor Togiola Tulafono of American Samoa

Our agenda will also feature David Bice, Director of the Joint Guam Program Office; Tony Neil, Director of the Pacific Power Association; and Theodore Peck, Energy Administrator, Strategic Industries Division, Hawai’i DBEDT. We also expect U.S. Congressional representatives, senior U.S. military officials, and hundreds of business people from the insular areas, the freely associated states, the United States mainland, and around the Pacific Rim.

This year's agenda will feature discussions of opportunities across three major areas:

* Renewable Energy: Increasing energy efficiency and decreasing dependence on expensive imported oil represent major business opportunities. For the first time, a full track of four breakout sessions will be devoted to these projects. Over $45 billion was appropriated nationwide as part of the recent stimulus legislation for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
* Large-scale public infrastructure work, especially construction projects associated with the military construction on Guam: As part of the historic realignment of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, 8,000 Marines will be relocated from Okinawa to Guam. This will require over US$14 billion in new construction and procurement for infrastructure, as well as services to support the enlarged base. Construction is slated to begin in 2010.
* Tourism of all kinds: These areas are among the most pristine and beautiful islands in the Pacific, if not the world. They offer a wealth of opportunities for small and large-scale hotel/resort development aimed at a wide range of clientele. The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is helping plan the tourism track at the conference with the goal of increasing tourism opportunities on the islands and attracting more visitors.

On-line registration is open at www.IslandBusinessOpportunities.com

The conference will also include evening receptions, networking events and, most importantly, prearranged one-on-one meetings, offering participants an opportunity to meet directly to discuss joint ventures. For more information or to register, go to www.IslandBusinessOpportunities.com. For any questions, please contact Angie Williams at Angela_Williams@ios.doi.gov or at (202) 208-3003.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Membership Meeting

Aloha Members,

Our next membership meeting will be this coming Thursday, March 26, 2009 at Waimea Valley.

Our guest speaker will be Sherry Menor-McNamara, Vice President for Business Advocacy & Government Affairs at the main Chamber. She will be reviewing the legislative process and current bills in the legislature that will affect business. This is really important. As you know the Card Check bill is back again this year and could really hurt small business. Come and get informed!

A continental breakfast will be served by Waimea Valley Grill: $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers.

Thank you to our sponsor Chet Naylor of Shark’s Cove Grill for this meeting.

Mahalo,

Antya