|
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
(for immediate release - February 24, 2007)
Contact person: Pati Faiai, Chief of Staff
Contact telephone: 633-4116
In Washington DC: Vince Iuli, Press Officer 1-623-466-4145
Governor Togiola at NGA
Winter Meeting in Washington DC
Click here for pictures
(WASHINGTON) - Governor Togiola Tulafono joined 47 other governors of states, territories and commonwealths today for the Opening Plenary session of the 2007 National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Meeting. The session introduced a primary theme of the meeting: how states can compete more effectively in the global economy by promoting innovation.
The Opening Plenary Session reflects the theme of NGA Chair Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano's Innovation America initiative, which focuses on improving science, technology, engineering and math education; enabling the post-secondary education system to support state's high growth industries; and encourage business innovation through supportive state policies. This national initiative is designed to spur governors to enact real, tangible statewide solutions to enhance the economic capacity of states and the nation.
Governors gathered with business and academic leaders for Saturday's opening plenary session at the JW Marriott Hotel. The plenary began with remarks by John T. Chambers, chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems, Inc. and Robert E. Rubin, former Secretary of the U.S. Treasury and director and chairman of the Executive Committee of Citigroup, Inc. Chambers outlined how Cisco makes decisions in the new global marketplace and what states can do to prepare their workforces for the 21st Century, while Rubin focused on the macro-economic impacts of current international trade imbalance and its potential risks to economic growth and rising real wages and real income.
"I know my fellow governors and their partners from state government and the private sector learned a great deal from the insightful remarks of Mr. Chambers and Mr. Rubin," said Gov. Napolitano. "This session perfectly set the stage for our continued discussion of the importance of innovation."
"Governors are committed to meeting the challenge of an increasingly competitive global economy," said NGA Vice Chair Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. "Today's session provided a clear picture of successful strategies states can consider for enhancing our economic competitiveness."
Also attending the annual winter meeting with Gov. Togiola are Gov. Lingle of Hawaii, Gov. Felix Camacho of Guam, Gov. John deJongh of US Virgin Islands, and Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila of Puerto Rico. The NGA concludes on Tuesday.
On Friday, Governor Togiola, as pro-tem of the Pacific Basin Development Council, chaired the annual winter meeting of PBDC at the Hall of States here in Washington DC.
This coming Wednesday, Governor Togiola and governors of US territories will participate in the Interagency Group of Insular Areas meet at the Department of Interior; with US Coral Reef Task Force meetings on Thursday and Friday. Governor Togiola will return to the Territory on Sunday, March 4th.
***END***
|
