A company based in the Philippines wanting to invest $100 million in American Samoa, with a projected 700 jobs being created, has made a presentation to Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, Fono leaders and other local officials, about the company’s proposed multi-food processing facility.

“The primary factor driving this effort is branding the final products [manufactured here] as made in the USA so to enter the U.S. market duty free, and products would also be available for export in the Pacific region,” the Commerce Department director Keniseli Lafaele told Samoa News yesterday afternoon.

The investment was first revealed in separate Oct. 7 letters from Lolo to the Fono leaders, who were invited by the governor to attend yesterday’s presentation by the Philippine company. The Fono leaders are also to be part of the ASG delegation to travel to the Philippines later this year.

In the letter, the governor said representatives of the Philippine company which “will invest $100 million to set up the multi-processing facility” are in the territory to finalize the paperwork to facilitate groundbreaking by the beginning of next year.

“The company has request[ed] a ‘due diligence’ visit to its operation in the Philippines to provide confidence to our government that it is a reputable company with many years of operating experience,” said Lolo, but didn’t identify the company by name.

Lolo has already extended his wish to Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie and House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale to be a part of the local delegation to the Philippines, to see first hand the capacity of this company, which is making a “sizable investment”.

“The economic benefits inherent in this proposal with respect to job creation and other residual benefits compel us to be proactive in ensuring that this proposal is implemented,” the governor wrote.

Responding to Samoa News inquiries, Lafaele identified the investor as A.V.M. Bernardo Engineering to set up the “multi-line food processing plant” with the following product output:

•            fish based products (frozen lines- sausage, ham, balls, nuggets and patties, pellets, surimi; canned products; fish head and tail);

•            juice line (coconut water, mango, nonu, etc.)

“The proposed venture is a public-private partnership arrangement, while AVM Bernardo Engineering builds the plant,” he explained. “Contractors or subcontractor-entrepreneurs are contracted to operate the multi-lines, and ASG owns the asset, or facility.”

While financial details of the proposed venture are yet to be finalized, he said benefits to American Samoa include employment, with 700 projected to be employed; transfer of technical knowledge, affiliated business growth, and growth in government assets.

AVM plan to start construction in January 2015 and operations in January 2016, Lafaele said, adding that “we are hopeful this venture will be realized as planned.”

Asked what incentives ASG is offering the company, he said “incentives are yet to be finalized but excise tax or duty free importation of plant construction materials and equipment are being considered.”

Besides the governor and Fono leaders present at yesterday’s presentation, others included the governor’s key staff, Secretary of Samoan Affairs and district governors. The governor’s office is handling the delegation to the Philippines that will include key administration officials.