Page 8 - IB May 2021

Briefs Briefs
improve the resilience of the FSM’s primary road network
to natural disasters and climate change. The project will
American Samoa improve roads at significant risk of disrepair in Chuuk, Kosrae,
The American Samoa Economic Development Authority Pohnpei, and Yap, “making travel safer and more reliable for
(ASEDA) wants to refinance bonds it issued in 2015 in a bid to all road users” according to a World Bank statement.
reduce interest rates and annual debt payments. ASEDA will
use the savings to add new debt to fund improvements of
the Fono building, fund a new court building and undertake a
study to relocate the adult and youth correction facilities. French Polynesia
The Chair of French Polynesia’s social security agency, CPS,
has called on the French state to pay for the medical costs
caused by its nuclear weapons tests. Patrick Galenon has
Bougainville made the call ahead of a high-level roundtable in Paris next
Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) President Ishmael month on the legacy of the nuclear weapons tests in the South
Toroama said Bougainville must have its independence through Pacific. Galenon said since 1995 the CPS has paid out US$800
the election of MPs of the independent state of Bougain- million to treat 10,000 people, and that France needs to reim-
ville by June 2025. The first post-referendum consultations burse these expenses if it wants to restore trust.
between Bougainville and the National Government are now
underway. The 2019 referendum saw 97.7% of Bougainvilleans
opt for independence from PNG.
Guam
The Guam Visitors Bureau will spend US$1 million from its
budget to market its new “Air V&V” vaccination tourism pro-
CNMI gram, to US citizens in the Asia-Pacific region. The program
The CNMI will welcome a group of 50 South Korean govern- would encourage US expatriates, and those with dual citizen-
ment officials and media partners next month before opening ship, mainly in the Philippines, to come to Guam for a “vac-
to tourists from July. CNMI COVID-19 Task Force Chairman cine and vacation.” If the program is successful, the GVB will
Warren Villagomez says systems are being tested to ensure all look at expanding it to non-Americans.
safety measures are in place. Meanwhile new Marianas Visitors
Authority(MVA) Chair, Viola Alepuyo says the industry is work-
ing hard to resume tourism safely, but that “the devil is in the Kiribati
details.” Alepuyo said as part of the plan to revive tourism, Kiribati says the upgrading of Kanton runway with Chinese
“we are also looking at jump-starting our signature events.” support is a non-military project designed to improve trans-
port links and bolster tourism. China provided grant support
for a feasibility study, and the government is seeking financial
support for the project. The opposition has raised concerns
Cook Islands
The first visitors to Cook Islands since the pandemic was over China’s involvement.
declared have told local media they were there for the peace, Kiribati has a new suite of business laws with the passing of
quiet and warmth. Welcoming them, while acknowledging the Companies Act, Company Insolvency Act and Business
some apprehension in the outer islands about the reopening of Names Act. The new laws will make it easier for businesses to
borders, Prime Minister Mark Brown said they hope to wel- operate in Kiribati says the Asian Development Bank.
come visitors from Australia next, although discussions with
the government there have not yet started.
Tax changes announced in 2019 to improve transparency have Marshall Islands
seen about 800 companies brought into Cook Islands’ tax The Parties to the Nauru Agreement has opened its new
system. The international companies previously were not re- headquarters in Majuro. The complex will house PNA staff who
quired to pay tax; now they have to pay a 20% rate, although manage the vessel day scheme, fisheries compliance, finan-
companies registered before 17 December 2019 have a grace cial accounting, and PNA’s fisheries information management
period, and must comply from 2022. The Cook Islands govern- system. CEO Ludwig Kumoru said the headquarter’s soft open-
ment said the changes were made to prevent listing by the ing will be followed by an official event when border entry
European Union as a “non-cooperative” tax jurisdiction. The restrictions are eased, and government leaders from the PNA
impact on tax revenue is still unclear.
nations can meet in the Marshall Islands.

Federated States of Micronesia
The World Bank has approved a US$40 million project to Nauru
Nauru Airlines is selling one of its two B737-300 aircraft. The

8 Islands Business, May 2021