Business Briefs

Tonga Saloni Soaki (far left) and producers of the Tongan Handicraft Association. Photo: Samantha Magick Saloni Soaki of the Tongan Handicraft Association led a team of seven people to the Sydney Aboriginal and Oceanic Art Fair in June. Soaki says the Association has made a few attempts to get exposure and markets in Australia but one obstacle is the quarantine and customs requirements. Soaki says although her group paid for the fumigation of everything they brought to the fair in Tonga, they had to pay a premium again for fumigation in Australia in order for the mats, tapa and other handicrafts to be released. Soaki was also surprised that many people coming to their stall knew nothing about Tonga. "I blame the (Tongan) visitors' bureau. They come here for road shows and should be promoting our country better." - ADVERTISEMENT - -SM

Pacific Region

Two regional law firms have joined forces in what they are calling a "legal services alliance." Pacific Legal Network and Pacific-Lawyers say together their networks cover "the entire Pacific including Australasia, Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia." Mark Shklov, managing partner of Shklov Berman & O'Connor, the alliance's member firm in Honolulu, said "The goal of this strategic alliance is to provide its clients with dependable, effective and compatible legal representation throughout the Pacific region." The president of the Australia-Pacific Islands Business Council, John Ridgeway, heads Pacific Legal Network.

-SM

American Samoa

The American Samoa government is working to complete an agreement with local businessman Tom Drabble to lease a portion of the 182-room Rainmaker Hotel. Drabble is to lease only the Beach Wing of the hotel, while another company is offering to lease the Harbor Wing of the hotel. Drabble currently operates a restaurant/tavern and Sadie Thompson Inn.

-FS

Samoa

The national brew Vailima beer looks likely to slip further into foreign hands with the government now negotiating with Carlton United Breweries for the sale of Samoa's remaining 15.5 percent shares in Samoa Breweries Ltd., which produces Vailima. Samoa Breweries reportedly earned about SA$2.9 million for CUB in 2001.

-FS

CNMI

The recent layoff of 100 workers from Saipan's biggest garment factory is a sign of things to come in the garment industry. Concorde Garment Manufacturing Inc., an affiliate of L&T Corp., is the first garment factory to streamline its workforce, citing the need to trim overhead costs in order to compete in the world market. Beginning in 2005, the local garment industry will be competing against large garment manufacturers in Asia where labor is cheap, compared to the CNMI minimum wage of $3.05 an hour. More than 15,000 alien workers are employed in the garment industry.

-FR

Fiji

Punjas, a regional manufacturing company based in Lautoka, Fiji, has snatched the naming rights to a combined Pacific Islands rugby team by signing a contract with Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance. The $300,000 deal means Punjas is sponsoring a Tri-Nation competition among Tonga, Samoa and Fiji that will lead to forming a Punjas Pacific Islands Test side. Punjas managing director Nitin Punja says after their sponsorship experience during the South Pacific Games, the company was keen to continue assisting sports development. The yearlong contract means a Pacific team to be reckoned with against the Wallabies (July 3); the All Blacks (July 10); and the Springboks (July 17).

-MR

Air Pacific announced in late May the highest profit ever in its 53-year history: $24.5 million. The amount is a 40 percent jump from last year; the company simultaneously declared 19-cents per share dividend totaling $4.95 million and bonuses for staff.

-MR

Guam

Sky Blue Air began its Guam-based operations following its FAA certification as a charter airline. Sky Blue's sole aircraft is a seven-passenger King Air 90 executive turboprop. The aircraft is available for operations throughout Micronesia for $950 per hour. The company's president and owner is Joe Edhlund.

-FW

Palau

Taiwan has been Palau's biggest tourist market for each of the past 10 months since the SARS epidemic settled in July 2003. In fact, from January 2003 until May 2004 Palau Visitors Authority registered 42,085 visitors from Taiwan. The second highest tourist market, Japan, registered 30,279 visitors for the same time period. High numbers continued in April with 3,290 Taiwanese visitors-a 106 percent increase from last year's 1,595.

-NC

Papua New Guinea

South African company Durban Roodeport Deep has announced plans to list on Papua New Guinea's Port Moresby Stock Exchange. DRD, the world's 12th largest gold mining company, has one third of its assets in the Pacific, which includes the Tolukuma gold mine in PNG and a 20 per cent stake each in PNG's Porgera gold mine and the Emperor gold mine in Fiji. These companies deliver 60 percent of the company's profits.

-AR

Contributors: Samantha Magick, Fili Sagapolutele, Frank Rosario, Matelita Ragogo, Frank Whitman, Nancy Chism and Alex Rheeney