Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

President Mori Travels to Japan for Summit Meeting and Seminar

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): May 21, 2009 - President Manny Mori has embarked on a trip to Japan to attend several important meetings and a Seminar on Captive Insurance in the FSM. Over the next week, the President, accompanied by Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Lorin Robert, the Secretary of R&D, Hon. Peter Christian, and the First Lady, will have a very busy schedule.

First, on May 20th, The President will participate in the Pacific Island Leaders' Roundtable meeting on Water and Sanitation and the Opening of the Water Symposium in Tokyo. This meeting is chaired by former Japanese PM, Yoshiro Mori, and will be held at the Fukoku Seimei Building in Hibiya.

Next, the President and his delegation will be flown to Hokkaido for the PALM 5 Summit Meeting. Here, the President will join the other Heads of Delegations and Leaders from the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) and the Government of Japan. Japan Prime Minister, H.E.Taro Aso will co-host this summit meeting with the Chair of the PIF and Premier of Niue, the Hon. Toke Tufukia Talagi. The PALM Summit is held every three years and brings together leaders of the Pacific and Japan to strengthen the relationship between these Pacific nations and to cooperate toward the development of the region. So far, the Summit Meetings have been held four times; the first meeting in Tokyo in October 1997, the second in Miyazaki, April 2000 hosted by PM Yoshiro Mori, the third and the fourth were both in Okinawa in May 2004 and 2006 hosted by PM Junichiro Koizumi. Issues to be discussed at this summit are; the environment and climate change, overcoming vulnerabilities and promoting Human Security, enhancing people-to-people exchange - The "Kizuna" Plan, fisheries, trade and investment, and Japan's support for peace and security in the Pacific region. The Summit will be held on May 22 and 23, 2009 in Tomamu, Shimukappu, Hokkaido.

After the Summit Meeting, the President and his delegation will fly back to Tokyo and attend a seminar on FSM Captive Insurance and Investment on May 26th, 2009 at the United Nations University. This seminar is sponsored and supported by the government of the Federated States of Micronesia, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan Institute for Pacific Studies (JAIPAS), and the FSM Captive Insurance Council. The seminar will introduce the basic merits of FSM as an attractive investment domicile for Japanese and focus particularly on FSM's new Captive Insurance regime. The program includes addresses by President Mori, FSM Ambassador to Japan, H.E. John Fritz, Professor Go Kawada CPA of Meiji University, Masanobu Takayama CPA, Wakaba Nakamura Taitano US CPA, and four captive insurance expert consultants.

The President also has several other activities and appointments scheduled while in Japan. He will attend the Photo Exhibition at Konica Minolta Plaza, which will highlight a collection of Pacific Islands with photos and exhibit products from the islands. He will have a personal meeting with former PM Yoshiro Mori, attend a reception with the Japanese Secretary of State, Ms. Seiko Hashimoto, visit the Pacific Islands Exhibition 2009 and "Viva Pacific Islanders" event at the JETRO Building, and finally, President Mori and the First Lady will have an Imperial Audience with the Emperor and Empress of Japan.

FSM Public Information Officer, Mr. Patrick Blank will join the delegation and provide updates to the public throughout the trip.