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| President Manny Mori and the FSM Delegation to the Pacific Islands Forum at bilateral meeting with the World Bank |
FSMIS –
Majuro (September 5, 2013): A bilateral meeting between the Federated States of
Micronesia (FSM) and the World Bank took place on the morning of September 3 at
the Marshall Islands Resort in Majuro in the Republic of the Marshall Islands
where Leaders of the Pacific countries are gathering for the 44th
annual session of the Pacific Islands Forum.
This meeting
allowed FSM and the World Bank another opportunity to further discussions on
possible World Bank assistance towards FSM’s long-term objective of improving broadband
connectivity through the utilization of fiber optic cables in all the States in
the FSM.
Mr. Axel van
Trotsenburg, Vice President of the World Bank, underscored the World Bank’s
commitment to supporting Information Communication Technology (ICT) reforms
through ICT infrastructure and services financing strategies that are available
to its members.
Leading the
FSM delegation that included Senator Peter Christian, Senator Yosiwo George,
Secretary Lorin Robert, Secretary Marion Henry, Secretary Francis Itimai and
Mr. Fredy Perman of FSM Telecom, President Manny Mori expressed his
appreciation for the opportunity to engage once again in discussions with the
World Bank to firm up action plans and deliver results in overall ICT
improvement in the FSM.
The World
Bank representatives spoke about a possibility of the World Bank’s financing a
regional program covering Palau and Micronesia, to facilitate ICT development, reduce
related costs, and increase communication services in support of social and
economic advancement.
They also spoke
on the requirements for FSM to access their portion of the potential financing for
this project, which could be around US$30-40 million. A
required component of this prospective funding would entail Palau’s willingness
to accept other financial arrangements with the World Bank to complete a
proposed Yap-Palau fiber optic cable linkage with the Guam-Philippines cable
line.
Mr.
Trotsenburg explained the World Bank’s current efforts in emphasizing bilateral
and regional commitments to places facing “extraordinary vulnerability”.
“All
countries matter no matter how small or big they are”, Mr. Trotsenburg affirmed
at one point during the discussion.
Under
certain World Bank criteria, the FSM is eligible for a grant allocation of
approximately US$13 million aside from region-based or joint projects subject
to the bank’s discretion.
The FSM has
until June of 2014 to put to use its current allocation according to
policy-based, agreed upon ICT and related ICT-enhancement projects.
Given inputs
from Members of both parties, it was agreed that time-tied alternative options
be put in place to guide decisions in case the outstanding joint interest
involving the Republic of Palau does not materialize. To be included in the
timeframe of options is the determination on possible World Bank presentations
with State and National Leaderships to enhance understanding on its operations
and financing processes.
President
Mori acknowledged the emergence of competing interests based on the pursuit of
newer trends. However, he underlined the overall aim of spreading the benefit
of high-speed connectivity throughout the nation in a manner that would
capitalize on provider-user mutual satisfaction, nurture valuable support from
partners, and enable medium to long term ICT-triggered improvements.
A World Bank delegation under its
Vice President will be heading to Pohnpei on September 5 to continue
discussions with officials and political leaders. While in Pailikir, Mr. Axel
van Trotsenburg
will announce a US $1.1 million grant for FSM and Palau, for the Telecommunications and ICT Technical
Assistance Project to support regulatory reform and prepare for future
potential projects.
Other
delegation Members with President Mori at the meeting included Mr. Andrew
Yatilman, Director of the Office of Environment and Emergency Management; Ms.
Evelyn Adolph, Director of the Office of SBOC; Mr. Leo Falcam Jr., Chief of
Staff; Ambassador Gerson Jackson, FSM Ambassador to Fiji; Mr. Alik Jackson, FSM Congress
legal staff; and Mr. Marcellus J. Akapito, Special Assistant to the President
on Information.
Joining Mr.
Trotsenburg from the World Bank were Mr. Franz R. Drees-Gross, Country Officer
for Timor-Leste and the Pacific Islands and Ms. Annette Leith, Operation
Officer for Timor-Leste and the Pacific Islands.
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