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Major employers to lobby for increased biz development

Representatives from American Samoa’s largest employers and businesses have begun reaching out to other territorial businesses and organizations to form an advocacy coalition to support stronger economic development policies.

 

Leading in the formation of the group will be StarKist Co., Tri Marine International, Polynesia Shipping Line, Humburg Sud and others who directly or indirectly represent the largest portion of private sector employment in American Samoa, according to a joint news release from the four companies.

 

The goal of the organization will be to serve as a supporting voice in Washington, DC as Congress and the Obama administration review and evaluate current and potential future federal policies related to the American Samoan economy.

 

StarKist spokesperson Mary Sestric says the governor of American Samoa and the territory’s congressional delegate are being both thoughtful and thorough in their review of existing programs and policies.

 

‘We strongly support them and feel we in the business sector have an obligation to help their efforts,” she said in the release.

 

Tri Marine board chairman, Joe Hamby says his company is making the largest recent investment in American Samoa by building a new cannery and helping the local fishing fleet to be better able to bring their fish to market.

 

Through this investment, he hopes to help American Samoa return to be one of the leading economic hubs for the fishing industry.

 

“Helping the  federal government to formulate economic development policies that focus on the future is a natural extension of our investment,” he said.

 

More details in tomorrow’s edition of Samoa News.