State has high hopes for first 'sister summit'

By Susan Hooper
Advertiser Staff Writer

More than two dozen delegations from Asia will take part next week in the state's first "sister summit" meeting, focusing on economic development with Hawai'i business and government leaders.

The event is the first Hawai'i conference to explore sister-city and sister-county relationships for economic-development purposes, according to Sharon Narimatsu, deputy director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, sponsor of the summit.

"Here in Hawai'i we have numerous sister-city and sister-county relationships, but they are primarily ceremonial and cultural in emphasis," she said. "We decided we would like to expand that relationship to an economic-development realm."

About 200 overseas delegates are expected to attend the conference, which will be held Monday and Tuesday at the Hawai'i Convention Center. Among the countries represented are China, Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan, state officials said.

After the two-day conference at the Convention Center, delegates will visit several Oahu businesses, then travel to the Neighbor Islands Thursday and Friday.

The business department is footing the $50,000 bill for the O'ahu portion of the conference, with the Neighbor Islands picking up the costs for visits by delegates later in the week, Narimatsu said.

About 250 Hawai'i participants are expected, state officials said.

In selecting Hawai'i companies to participate in the meeting, the business department focused on those with services or technology to export, including aquaculture, agriculture, architecture, planning and engineering, Narimatsu said.

The University of Hawai'i and Hawaii Pacific University also are participating, since they have training and expertise to offer the emerging nations, she said.

About 40 delegates from Taiwan will be attending the conference, according to Daniel Kuo, chief of the foreign affairs office with the Taiwan provincial government. They include delegates from Taiwan province, whose sister state is Hawai'i; from Hualien County, which is sister to Hawai'i County; and Pingtung County, which is sister to Maui County, he said.

K.C. Fan, the governor of Taiwan province, will be among the group, Kuo said. Interests of the delegates include biotechnology, education and investment opportunities in Hawai'i, he said.

"The most important part of our trip is to solidify our sister-county relationship, because it gives us a chance to demonstrate our commitment to economic growth and helps to increase tourism and cultural exchanges," Kuo said.

Oceanic Institute, a private, not-for-profit research and development organization based at Makapu'u Point, is among the Hawai'i representatives at the conference. The institute specializes in coastal fisheries and aquaculture research that can have commercial applications, according to spokeswoman Janet Crawford.

"We hope from a business and research point of view to form strategic alliances," she said of the conference. "We have research capabilities that people in aquaculture and coastal restoration might be interested in. And private industry may be interested in our business opportunities."

Reach Susan Hooper at 525-8064 or shooper@honoluluadvertiser.com.