Honolulu, HAWAII — The Pacific Basin Development Council (PBDC) meeting, on Sept. 27 at its headquarters at the West-West Center in Honolulu, under the new leadership of executive director, Esther Kia’aina, focused on several issues. 

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, along with the governors of Hawai’i, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, attended the meeting.

Among the focused issues was an update from Kia’aina on the development and the implementation of the U.S. Pacific Islands Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the region which includes Guam, American Samoa, CNMI, and Hawaii, according to the Governor’s executive assistant Iulogologo Joseph Pereira, who is traveling with Lolo.

American Samoa's section of the Regional CEDS was prepared in collaboration with Commerce Department director Fuiavailiili Keniseli Lafaele and the Governor’s Office. The Regional CEDS is a requirement in the newly approved US Economic Development Administration grant of $85,000 to supplement funding for the PBDC's new fiscal year’s operation.

“Since other jurisdictions still need to upgrade their respective sections” deadline for the other jurisdictions for their update is set for Dec. 31 this year, said Iulogologo via email from Honolulu late last week.

Another focused item was discussion of long-term economic resiliency in the U.S. Pacific Region with regards to: Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvement; Disaster Preparedness; Renewable Energy; Invasive Species Management; Climate Change Adaptation; and Telecommunications.

Kia’aina also announced that efforts are “being taken to create partnerships” with other organizations in order to advance to vision, goals and the objectives of PBDC.  Current initiatives include Create Partnerships; Regional capacity building and information sharing forums; and the Economic Development Representative (EDR) on key economic development projects and initiatives.

Regarding the election of new officers, it was decided that the election of new officers for PBDC is to be delayed until the December meeting when the November mid terms elections are completed given that Hawai’i Gov. David Ige and CNMI Gov. Ralph D.L.G Torres are facing re-election bids this year.

Moreover, Gov. Eddie Baza Calvo's term as Governor of Guam ends at the end of this year, thus delaying the selection of officers would avail the opportunity to the new Guam Governor to participate in election process.

The next PDIC is scheduled for Dec. 11-13 during the Western Governors Association conference on the Kona Coast, Hawaii.