Business Briefs

Palau

Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Micronesia held its third quarter chapter meeting from Dec. 1 to 3 in Palau. PATA International vice president for development Peter Semone of Bali spoke at the forum lunch addressing new changes from the headquarters side and made protocol visits to leaders of Micronesia including Palau President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. and Guam Governor Felix Camacho. Conference highlights included the update of PATA's restructure plans, discussions of regional issues, and the chapter's change of domicile to Palau.

-NC

American Samoa

McDonald's American Samoa raised $5,200 during its Nov. 20 World Children's Day and donated it to the Samoana High School parent/teachers association accreditation fund. Samoana PTA president Henry Sesepasara says the money will help improve school facilities, as recommended by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), which returns in March for an accreditation review. McDonald's chief executive officer, Rep. Agaoleatu Charlie Tautolo says, "We have given back over $3 million by not only supporting our community needs but also contributing to our economy," since opening in the territory four years ago.

-FS

CNMI

Visitor arrivals for October show a 4 percent increase over the same period in 2003, according to statistics from the Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA). More than 40,000 tourists arrived, with the U.S. market posting 113 percent growth as compared to October 2003. Following the U.S. arrivals is China with a 64 percent rise. The increase from China is attributed to the Chinese Golden Week, a holiday period in China that took place in the first week of October. The Korean market, however, showed a 42 percent decline. Despite the decrease, Korea remains the Northern Marianas' second largest market, after Japan.

-FR

Guam

The Federal Communications Commission approved the final license needed for the sale of the Guam Telephone Authority to TeleGuam Holdings. The sale is expected to be completed by Jan. 1. TeleGuam Holdings is partly owned by Shamrock Capital Growth, an investment company affiliated with the investment company of the Roy E. Disney family.

-FW

Papua New Guinea

The Papua New Guinea National Forest Authority has denied accusations by Greenpeace that PNG-produced logs sold in Australia were illegally logged. PNGNFA acting managing director Dike Kari says all logging projects presently in operation in PNG have lawfully issued permits and challenged the environmental group to show evidence of illegal logging. He lashed out at Greenpeace saying the organization did not contribute in any way to the PNG economy and was becoming an impediment to the country's economic growth.

-AR

Samoa

One of Samoa's longstanding businesses houses, MV McKenzie Wholesale Ltd. was destroyed by fire during the early morning of Dec. 14. According to general manager Richard Ah Chong, losses will amount to more than T$10 million (US$3.7 million). The fire also destroyed the nearby Moatoga Lodge, which has filed a T$2.5 million (US$934,000) claim for damages from McKenzie.

-AT

The latest arrivals and departures figures from Samoa show that Polynesian Airlines, Samoa's national flag carrier, is the major carrier of people with 60.8 percent of all inbound traffic. The other two carriers are Air New Zealand with 25 percent and Air Pacific, with 5 percent. For the first nine months of this year, 70,642 arrivals were recorded, with 70 percent listed as visitors.

-AT

Tonga

Tonga's export of Angel's Hair seaweed to Japan will reportedly rise to record levels this year. Matangi Tonga reports that the two main exporters of the seaweed, Tangle Nano Company and the Koloa me 'Oseni, aim to export over 1,000 tons each this year.

-SM

Contributors: Alex Rheeney, Nancy Chism Fili Sagapolutele, Samantha Magick, Afamasaga Toleafoa, Frank Rosario and Frank Whitman.