US corporations

sponsor South Pacific Conference

This month’s 22nd South Pacific Conference in American Samoa has special significance for more than 20 American corporations, each of which is sponsoring the meeting to the tune of SUSSOOO.

Worried about Soviet intru sions in the South Pacific, the corporations see their sponsor ships as cementing a partnership with the conference’s 21 Pacific Island members.

That partnership theme has been actively promoted on the

U.S. Mainland and in Hawaii by American Samoa Governor Peter T. Coleman.

By mid-August, about 25 U.S. corporations had signed up to sponsor the conference, includ ing a number based in Hawaii.

To attract 50 corporate sponsors a $250,000 infusion of American capital in to the con ference’s coffers.

For their donations, the corpo rations are promised such be nefits as attendance at all confer ence sessions, participation in a

South Pacific Trade Exhibit, at tendance at a state dinner, and a golf tournament with Pacific Is land government leaders. To see each leader separately would cost at least $6870 in airfares alone and would take at least four weeks travel, according to pro motional literature presented to potential corporate sponsors who attended an August meeting in Honolulu.

To further stimulate their par ticipation at the Pago Pago meet ings on October 23-29, confer ence promoters are tempting the corporations by appealing to their American patriotic heritage.

“Vital U.S. foreign policy ob jectives are at stake in seeing that favorable foundations are con structed, in the Pacific for an atmosphere of partnership to evolve,” says one promotional leaflet given to executives. “Pro perly approached, and with a reciprocal attitude of partnership, American business can benefit, and especially so during this period of foundation-building.”

The promotional literature also invokes the Soviet threat to the Pacific, hinting that Pacific Is lands security is at stake and that American corporate influence can help deflate the Soviet menace.

“This year, 1982, represents a pivotal crossroads for the South Pacific, the East-West, capital ist-socialist implications in near term decision making are crucial.

“The Soviets are making strong, serious overtures to Pacific Island leaders, offering various forms of economic as sistance which is vitally needed. The Soviet objective, of course, is to extend its sphere of influence. So far, the Soviets have been effectively “rebuffed”.

“Essentially, the Pacific Is land nations are receptive to an increased presence by American, other Western, and Japanese companies which can provide needed goods ad services. This approach is far preferable to a government grant of foreign aid, which is the only alternative to Soviet economic and political penetration of the region. The time is right for the business sector to enhance its involvement in the Pacific Islands.”

American corporations with Pacific Island interests apparent ly agree. Pacific Resources, Inc., a Honolulu-based oil company which has a refinery in the Hawaiian Islands, was one of the first multinationals to chip in its cash. The Bank of Hawaii, which has branches on Guam, in American Samoa, in the Mic ronesian islands, and representa tive offices on other Pacific Is lands, was also quick to offer sponsorship as were Docummun Metals Co, and Grand Pacific Life Insurance Co.

Conference promoters said if business can show its willingness and capacity to develop construc tive programs that will help

neighbors help themselves, it

will “help establish an American policy based on mutual economic strength and co-operation in an area so tragically proven in war to be of monumental strategic importance to the U.S.”

American Samoan govern ment officials added that spon sorship would show that Ameri can corporations were committed to President Ronald Reagan’s philosophy of voluntarism.

The conference will also serve to introduce the corporations to American Samoa, itself looking to attract investment capital. Al though a “Samoa for Samoan” policy exists, the territory en courages outside investment. At present, the islands’ major foreign investments are the Van Camp and Star Kist tuna-canning

operations.

Business leaders will be able to express their thoughts about

the partnership’s potential and

problems at a special symposium

called Pacific 2000. Other topics scheduled for discussion are energy independence, education and health, tourism and transpor tation, and economic

development.

The conference is the annual forum of the South Pacific Com

mission, a regional co-operative

development institution founded in 1947, and based in New Caledonia. It has 21 Pacific Is land government members and five metropolitan members the United States, United King dom, France, New Zealand, and

Australia.

Paul Addison in

Honolulu.