21st Micronesian Chief Executive Summit held in Palau

4 March 2016 - The five FSM Chief Executives – FSM President Peter M. Christian, Chuuk State Governor Johnson Elimo, Yap State Governor Tony Ganngiyan, Pohnpei State Governor Marcelo Peterson and Kosrae State Lt. Governor Carson Sigrah – led their respective delegations to Koror, Republic of Palau, for the 21^st Micronesian Chief Executives’ Summit (MCES) from February 23 - 24, 2016. This was the 21st session of the MCES where the three Presidents of the Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of the Marshall Islands, four Governors of Territory of Guam, Chuuk State, Yap State, Pohnpei State and two Lt. Governors of Kosrae State and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands met to reaffirm the commitments of each of the Chief Executives on behalf of their people and their governments, to establish closer ties, ensure future discussions and agree on implementing initiatives for the benefit of citizens in this Micronesian Region. 

The Summit was opened by outgoing Chairman of the 20^th MCES, Yap Governor Ganngiyan, on the morning of February 23, 2016 and passed onto the incoming Chairman of the 21^st MCES, Palau President Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr., who officially called the 21^st MCES Session to order and began his opening statement with a moment of silence in remembering the people of Fiji in the aftermath of Cyclone Winston.  He also noted with honor that the first female Micronesian Chief Executive, RMI President Hilda Heine, made this 21^st MCES her first official trip outside of RMI. Subsequently, FSM President Christian, RMI President Heine, Guam Governor Eddie Baza Calvo, Chuuk Governor Elimo, Yap Governor Ganngiyan, Pohnpei Governor Peterson, Kosrae Lt. Governor Sigrah, and CNMI Lt. Governor Victor Borja Hocog gave their opening remarks.

The reports and recommendations from the nine standing committees were given, along with presentations on a number of issues of interest in the region and jointly directed action in the MCES respective jurisdictions and are reflected in the 21^st MCES Communiqué.  The Summit concluded on February 24, with the Leaders Communiqué signing ceremony, and an announcement that the 22^nd MCES will be held in Guam.

While in Palau, FSM President, Chuuk, Yap and Pohnpei State Governors and Kosrae Lt. Governor also met with the FSM Honorary Consul to Palau, Mrs. Chen Masang and the FSM students who are attending Palau Community College.  

Accompanying the President, State Governors and Lt. Governor to the Summit were officials and representatives from the national and state offices, national agencies and national enterprises.

**For details on the agenda and outcomes of the summit, please refer to the Joint Communique on President's official website (www.fsmpio.fm)

For further information, contact FSM Department of Resources and Development via email: fsmrd@fsmrd.fm or telephone: +691 320-2620/2646/5133.