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Vice President Killion joins business conference in California

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Services): September 24, 2004 - Vice President Redley Killion is among the Island Heads of States and Governors gathered in Los Angeles for a Conference to promote Business Opportunities in the Islands.

The second of its kind, the Conference is hosted by Secretary of Interior Gale Norton to showcase for the United States, opportunities for trade and investment in the seven islands under the Department's jurisdiction: the U.S. Territories (Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas) and the freely associated states (Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia.)

Scheduled for September 23 and 24, the Conference will be held at the Marriott Hotel in downtown LA.

Over 700 people, including executives from leading U.S. businesses, officials from public and private sectors in the islands are expected to attend the Conference described as a "Win-Win Opportunities for the mainland and the Islands."

Among the officials expected at the Conference are the following leaders:

• Secretary Gale Norton, U.S. Department of the Interior (Keynote Speaker)

• President Kessai Note, Republic of the Marshall Islands

• Vice President Redley Killion, Federated States of Micronesia

• Governor Charles Turnbull, U.S. Virgin Islands

• Governor Felix Camacho, Guam

• Governor Togiola Tulafono, American Samoa

• Governor Juan Babauta, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

• Rear Admiral Arthur Johnson, Commander U.S. Naval Forces - Marianas

Among the topics to be discussed are: Compact II, recently re-negotiated between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands; military contracting opportunities in the Pacific; other government programs that can lead to contracting opportunities; private sector opportunities; financing.