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BGSI to Conduct a Workshop on Supporting Strengthened Regional Cooperation on February 14, 2008

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Service): January 31, 2008 - An international consultative team from the Business and Government Strategies International, Incorporated will conduct a study in the FSM from February 11-14, 2008 with a national workshop to be held on February 14 at the close of the study.

The exercise is sponsored by the Asian Development Bank in conjunction with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. The exercise is in connection or supplements ongoing regional efforts to implement the Pacific Plan and its development initiatives, with focus on the identification of those initiatives that are best implemented regionally, those that are best implemented through sub-regional cooperation, as well as the identification of those initiatives to supplement the implementation of ongoing national development plans and priorities.

The purpose and objective of the study is to assess regional and sub-regional cooperation options from the FSM's perspective, through the development of frameworks for use in national planning purposes, and the identification of national priorities for funding consideration by developing partners.

President Mori invited the staff of Congress to attend the February 14 workshop. He said that he expected the workshop to attract many participants ranging from the Government Sector, the private sector, media, training institutions and civil society organizations.

The venue for the conference has not yet been decided.