Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

Secretary Christian Addressed 1st National Resources and Development Conference

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Services): August 29, 2008 - FSM Resources and Development Secretary, Hon. Peter Christian, addressed more than seventy government and private sector participants to the first FSM Resources and Development Conference during the opening on August 18, 2008 in the Central Facilities Building in Palikir

In his address, Secretary Christian reminded the conference that developing the economy is easier said than done. He also said that there is already a plan for development, but like all good plans, it must be reviewed periodically because of its age, and applicability to current needs.

Secretary Christian said that placing some emphasis on the needs of the villages and the people who live in the villages must be one of the goals to achieve in this conference.

And he also said; "Governments have and will continue to play a special role with delineated responsibilities in our effort to grow and improve our economic status so that we can become more self-reliant. Indeed, the government can play a very constructive role in the development of the private sector in general, particularly in small communities such as ours. There is no doubt that our public sector is too large, but we must take care that we do not cut to the level where we jeopardize the delivery of essential services that are necessary for the continued viability of the private sector as well as for our citizens."

He added that the government also has a role to play in the protection of our indigenous businesses, because without some protection, at least for the foreseeable future, the field will always be tipped in favor of foreign investors, and our own people will not be able to compete fairly.

Secretary Christian stated that private sectors entities and the foreign investors, who invest in this country, do so at some risk, too. They also need our protection to insure against a flood of competition from their peers, and protection from unfair and unreasonable demands by governments at all level.

"The absence of such protection," Christian said, "may cause either a longer term for return on their investment or simply pulling up stake and moving on to better environment."

Secretary Christian ended his remarks with this statement; "This conference should result in at least paving the way for an open, candid forum designed to enhance our ability to not just simply coexist complacently, but more improvement oriented."

The Conference went on for three days and ended on August 20, 2008 by which time summation of outcomes and findings was compiled.