Island Times – April 20, 2021
The Palau Chamber of Commerce held its monthly general membership meeting on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at The Taj Palau Restaurant. Members of the Chamber of Commerce warmly welcomed their Special Guest Speaker, Honorable Minister Charles Obichang, Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Industries (MPII), Republic of Palau, along with MPII’s Special Advisor on Aviation Matters/Deputy Head Mr. Peter Polloi. Over 40 PCOC members attended the meeting.
Minister Obichang’s presentation included an update on the Palau International Airport, its current situation with finishing infrastructure work, and shared about the airport protocols on the Taiwan-Palau travel bubble or sterile corridor as well as on recent and future developments pertaining to his Ministry.
Board Member Kaipo Recheungel facilitated the questions from the PCOC general membership to MPII
Minister Obichang and the results provided very interesting and productive conversations with members on a variety of infrastructure and industry topics – ranging from flights and airport to discussions regarding plans for a public transportation system as traffic jams in Koror are getting worse, the Aimeliik landfill and work on public trash collection systems, public restrooms especially when Palau reopens its tourism industry to the world again, and fire hydrants for public emergencies.
PCOC President, Irene Olkeriil, on behalf of the PCOC general membership, thanked MPII Minister Obichang and Mr. Polloi for their presentation and especially for taking time to join the organization’s monthly lunch meeting to discuss these important matters that affect both the government and the business community including the rest of the private sector. Ms. Olkeriil added that the meeting has been a successful first date to form this hopeful public-private partnership between the Ministry of Public Infrastructures and Industries and the Palau Chamber of Commerce, and encouraged all that during these tough economic times we need to work together going forward for the benefit of both private sector, especially businesses, and the public sector that provides services for Palau.
Palau Chamber of Commerce looks very much forward to strengthening the relationship with Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Industries for a constructive partnership that will also benefit the business sectors of Republic of Palau.
