[jshepherd]

On-the-ground research conducted by a team of consultants in June 2004 has produced numerous business opportunities in the Pacific Islands and Virgin Islands for pearl companies. Please see a sample of some of the identified projects:

OCEAN RESOURCES
# Location Description
100 American Samoa Fish processing operations: ample supply of high-margin sashimi-grade for export
101 American Samoa Fish farming: tilapia & moi farming opportunities exist
102 FSM Fish processing: privatization of Pohnpei Fisheries Corp, facilities meet US FDA requirements
103 FSM Purse seining fishing: Carolina Fisheries Corp seeking $10-15 million investment for 3rd (1200 ton) boat
104 FSM Black pearl farming: operations reaching scale with 8,000+ harvest in '04, seeking partner for equity, distribution & marketing
105 FSM Giant clams (National Aquaculture Center): meat is a specialty item in restaurants & markets, shells and live specimens
106 Guam Fish farming: cat fish farming for export to the US
107 Palau Cultured clams & tropical fish for home aquariums; customers in North America already served
108 RMI Giant clam: numerous sources for giant clams and cultured clams for meat, shells and as live specimens for aquariums
109 RMI Black pearls: two developing black pearl companies interested in distribution candidates and possible partnering opp’s
110 RMI Fish Meal: local company has access to key ingredients wants partner with know-how to start local production


Facts about the islands:

- Guam, Saipan, Palau, Marshalls, Federated States of Micronesia, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands
- Many of the islands are close to East Asian countries and receive large numbers of tourists from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, etc. each year.

- The US Government is funding infrastructure development in many of the islands totaling $3.5 billion over the next 20 years.

- The islands are rich in ocean resources and numerous tropical resources.

[jshepherd]

To follow-up on these opportunities, a Business Opportunities Conference will be held September 23-24 in downtown Los Angeles. You may register at BusinessOpportunitiesConference.com register soon as space is limited.

For background on the Island communities, there will also be an Island Executive Briefing by Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior, David Cohen, on Thursday, July 29. Please call Asia Global (714-668-8802 x302) for details on the two LA-area briefings we are holding on the 29th.

I am in the La Jolla area, not too farm from LA. Is this seminar open to the public? It sounds very interesting. Maybe I will just call the number...

I would really like to go to this as well. I may be in Los Angeles next month, so I will see if I can schedule around it. Send me an eMail if you will be attending, Mr. Shepherd. I would love to have lunch.

By the way, I took the liberty of posting this seminars on the Forum calendar. It was looking barren!

[jshepherd]

I will be there. Just contact via the number on my site if you are able to make it. You are welcome to visit our offices.