PAGO PAGO: DOI officials, ASG representatives and business owners who took part in the business investment conference in Los Angeles last week agree that American Samoa was well represented and got the attention of participants. Their consensus is that the conference was a big success. Of note was the sizeable number of private sector representatives who paid their own way to the conference and made their voices heard at the LA conference. Director of Commerce Aliimau Junior Scanlan said that local businessmen and women like Gary Sword, Ryan Gebauer, Betty Cavanaugh, Agaoleatu Charlie Tautolo, Rep Su’a Carl Schuster, Michael Reid and others did a first rate job in presenting American Samoa as a place that was ready to accommodate those who might consider the US territories in their investment plans. He said, our message was made stronger because of the push from the private sector. Aliimau and Utu Abe Malae former CEO of ASPA and now acting president of the Development Bank also made presentations.

One of the organizers said that there was some good natured ribbing about the way American Samoa seemed to dominate the conference. This impression may have been due to the fact that the local delegation set up its large display immediately in front of the main entrance to the conference. There were Samoan handicraft displayed by the Womens Business Center headed by Tilali Ilaoa. Aliimau said the theme of the display was tourism and this was a joint effort between American Samoa And Samoa who sent representatives to help sell the two Samoas as a single destination. Aliimau said, I think we did a good job getting our message across to hundreds of tour operators who attended the conference.

The night before the conference opened, Governor Togiola Tulafono hosted a reception attended by almost 300 people including a big contingent from the Samoan community in Los Angeles. Several insular area governors, and heads of government from Micronesia, Deputy assistant Secretary Papalii David Cohen and OIA Director Nikolao Pula attended. Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin, Aumua Amata Coleman and four time super bowl winner, ex-San Francisco 49er Jesse Sapolu were also present. Entertainment was provided by well known Samoan singer Tolo and Estella Reid’s Polynesian revue.

Governor Togiola was the first of the governors to speak on the first day of the conference and he described American Samoa as a place that was investor friendly and serious about placing foreign investors with the local business community. He spoke of the territory’s efforts to develop its infrastructure to the point where American Samoa was now active in also developing the infrastructure of other islands in the region.

At the end of the conference the Governor said he was proud of the way American Samoa, particularly the private sector represented itself at this important conference. He said the government will do its part to help put together the local business community and any investor who wants to take us to the next level. He thanked the staff from the Department of Commerce and Tourism for a job well done.