What’s in the Future for Graduates?

keniseli-confirmation

With more than 1,000 graduates ending 12 years of education and some hitting the pavement to look for jobs, KHJ News asked the head of the agency in charge of the territory’s economic development, the Department of Commerce, about job opportunities created over the last four years, which the latest crop of graduates can apply for.

Director of Commerce Keniseli Lafaele responded that since the end of 2012 up to December 2016, ASG employment grew 28.7 percent, adding 1,313 jobs.

In addition, the canneries added 1016 jobs, before the closure of Samoa Tuna Processors’ canning in December of last year, said Lafaele.

Other private sector employers added 781 jobs.

Correspondingly the unemployement rate declined from 27.9% in 2012 to 14.5% at the end of 2016, according to the director.

Lafaele said the summer youth employment program will employ some of this year’s graduates.

He hopes a significant number of this year’s graduates will continue to invest in their education at the American Samoa Community College or abroad including the National university of Samoa which Lafaele said has some good programs or join the military to finance their education.

In their gubernatorial campaigns the Lolo Lemanu team emphasized the need to grow the private sector .

At a recent meeting of business owners and an economist from the US Department of Interior it was generally expressed that the territory’s economy has regressed

In January of last year, the government held a ground breaking ceremony at the site where a multi line food and drink processing plant was to be built.

Up to now the AVM factory has not been constructed.

When asked if the AVM project is happening at all or if it has been dropped Lafaele said AVM is close to securing investors and hopeful to start phase one of the project in July.

The DOC Director said the rehabilitation of the Rainmaker Hotel site is – ongoing and they are assessing development and funding options.

For the restoration of the Tramway to Mt Alava, they are applying for grants to fund engineering design and construction.

Another business venture is the Ulu project which according to Lafaele Doc is assisting businessman Rep. Su’a Alex Jennings in securing funding to build a plant and needed equipment to process ulu flour and other products.

DOC is also holding discussions with island neighbors for regional trade and commerce- and are updating or implementing memorandums of understating with Samoa, Tokelau, Cook Islands and Tonga.

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