FSM and China talk in Majuro: “best friend and strong partner”

FSMIS-Majuro (September 5, 2013): Moments after his arrival in Majuro, Mr. Li Qiangmin, Special Envoy from the People’s Republic of China to the 44^th Pacific Islands Forum, led a Chinese delegation in a bilateral meeting with the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) President Manny Mori at the Marshall Islands Resort on September 3.

Mr. Li thanked President Mori and his delegation and said he attached high priority to securing the meeting opportunity, calling the FSM China’s “best friend and strongest partner” in the Pacific region.

Reciprocating mutual compliments, President Mori reiterated the FSM’s commitment to the One-China Policy and acknowledged the strong and beneficial friendship that exists between FSM and China.

Citing his desire for frankness, Mr. Li spoke about his Government’s intention to strengthen relations with other Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Members in the interest of region-wide development. He said China was very keen on solidifying commitment to the Pacific Island Forum as a Member of the Post-Forum Dialogue.

The Post-Forum Dialogue is held after the Leaders’ sessions and retreat are concluded, providing discussion and interaction opportunities among Development Partners, Services Agencies, other observers and the member-countries.  He also made the President aware of a Forum-related matter for which he sought FSM support.  

President Mori and Mr. Li also discussed other matters of mutual importance including an upcoming high level China-Pacific Countries meeting on November 9, 2013. Further details on the meeting will be provided through the Pohnpei-based Ambassador Zhang Lianyun, who also accompanied Mr. Li during the meeting.

Given the opportunity, President Mori emphasized an outstanding need of a definite accounting on committed assistance not yet utilized by the FSM Government and stressed the need for FSM and China to be on the same page with such information.

While expressing gratitude for China’s continued financial assistance for infrastructure support, President Mori also proposed that each year, China indicate the level of support to be provided during the incoming year for budgetary planing purposes. This way, FSM can benefit from a more coherent assistance program and Partners can coordinate more clearly their impact on the development spectrum.

In response to a number of comments and suggestions, Mr. Li said he would take note of the requests with home office and assist where possible. He stressed that China would do its best in assisting its Pacific partners in improving economic situations and build resiliency for the region through strengthening of partnerships.

Accompanying President Mori at this meeting were Secretary Lorin S. Robert, Secretary Francis Itimai, Director Evelyn Adolph and Ambassador Gerson Jackson.

For information, email markapito@gmail.com

Request for Bid: FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs

Request For Bid

(Closing date: August 30, 2013 or until filled)

1.   General

The Department of Health and Social Affairs (HSA) of the FSM National Government (hereinafter referred as “government”) hereby solicits bid from interested companies (hereinafter referred as “applicants”) to provide fixtures, renovation, and other necessary improvement to the office spaces currently occupied at the Capitol Suites and Apartment in Palikir.

The items to be provided or specifications to be adhered to:

1.    Renovation of conference room, office space, IT room

2.    Conference room tables, audio-system, office space cubicles

3.    Other necessary supplies to modernize office, conference, and learning resource centers/room.

4.    Costing of each of the items must be specified.

5.    Costing of labor and professional services

2.   Eligibilities

All licensed companies in the FSM who has the necessary means to carry out the project.

3.   Format

Applicant may submit a bid in any generally accepted style and format as long as it provides the necessary information as follows:

1.    Name and Address of Agency

2.    Telephone and Facsimile numbers, including contact email addresses and website, if any.

3.    Name, address and email address of the contact person.

4.    Detailed estimate of cost

5.    Evidence that the company has all the necessary resources to complete the project, without requesting advanced payment.

4.   Selection Criteria and review panel

As this is a small renovation project, the main criterion to award the bid is company’s ability to complete the project as requested in two weeks and ability to use its own resources without requesting prepayment.

5.    Submission:

Bids must be submitted either in sealed envelopes or via email at health@fsmhealth.fm and received by the Department of Health and Social Affairs on or before the July 20, 2010.  If bid is submitted via mail, please deliver to:

Dr. Vita A Skilling

Secretary

Department of Health and Social Affairs

FSM National Government

Palikir, Pohnpei   FM  96941

Phone:          691 320 2619

Fax:             691 320 5263

Email:           health@fsmhealth.fm

2014 MICRONESIA GAMES ORGANIZING COMMITEE RECEIVES CHALLENGE FROM GOVERNOR EHSA

Photo and article by Jim Tobin, FSM National Olympic Committee

Pohnpei State Governor John Ehsa officially welcomed the members of the Pohnpei Organizing Committee for the 2014 Micronesia Games at a meeting held on Wednesday, September 4, at the new FSMNOC conference room in Kolonia.  Governor Ehsa thanked all the organizing committee members and asked them to be dedicated and work hard to ensure that Pohnpei will host a wonderful Micro Games that tops the very well done 7^th Micro-Games in Palau in 2010.  The 8^th Micronesia Games will be held on Pohnpei from July 20-29, 2014 with the program including the sports of Athletics (track and field), Baseball, Basketball, Fast-Pitch Softball, Wrestling, Weightlifting, Table Tennis, Tennis, Micronesia All-Around, Spear Fishing, Outrigger Canoe (Va’a), Swimming, Volleyball and possibly men’s Soccer.

After the welcome remarks by Governor Ehsa, the Pohnpei Organizing Committee Chairman, Lt. Governor Marcelo Peterson opened the first meeting and discussed the goals and objectives of the organizing committee.  He introduced Bob Spegal who assisted with Pohnpei’s 2002 Games, and Bob reviewed and discussed the roles and responsibilities of the 11 Sub-Committees.  The sub-committees and chairpersons are:  Accommodation and Transportation (Joseph Villazon and Pressler Martin); Accreditation and Results (Lestly Mendiola and Herold Ocampo); Finance and Fund Raising (Andrew Joseph; Catering (Bernolina Hedson); Media/Broadcast/Internet/Website (Darsy Augustine and Gordon Segal); Medical (Paulino Rosario); Program Booklet (Stephanie Edward); Protocol (Lululeen Santos and Trevane Ehsiel); Security (Kerley Aracely), Sports (Jim Tobin); and Venue and Maintenance (Ricky Lebehn).  The sub-committee chairs are to recruit additional committee members and finalize budgets in the next two weeks. It was agreed, that at this point, monthly meetings will be held for the Organizing Committee for the 2014 Games.  Meeting may adhere to a more frequent schedule in the future.

FSM and World Bank hold bilateral meeting ahead of Pacific Islands Forum in Majuro

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 44^th 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.

For inquiry, contact Marz Akapito through markapito@gmail.com.