WHEREAS, the Pacific Basin Economic Council (Council) is an association of senior business leaders from one thousand one hundred companies in twenty different economies throughout the Pacific Basin region with total global sales in excess of US $4 trillion and employ more that ten million people; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the Council is to: achieve a business environment in the region that ensures open trade and investment and encourages competitiveness; provide information and services to members that increase their business opportunities; and support cooperative business efforts to address the economic well-being of citizens in the Pacific region; and

WHEREAS, the Council's headquarters was moved to Hawaii from the United States mainland in 1992, due to Hawaii's time zone advantages and has remained here ever since; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii remains at the geographic and temporal center of all Council members located throughout the Pacific basin; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's natural beauty, environment, visitor industry facilities, and international and multi-cultural society make it an ideal location to conduct international business discussions, transactions and conferences; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii has all the advantages of advanced technology and electronic communications capabilities required for the Council's operations; and

WHEREAS, while Hawaii remains the ideal location for its headquarters, some Council members are discussing the possibility of relocating its headquarters to Asia; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, that the State of Hawaii is very appreciative of the fact that the Pacific Basin Economic Council has maintained its headquarters here since 1992, thereby establishing Hawaii as a recognized center of international business activity; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State of Hawaii remains very supportive of the Council and the mission of its members; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State of Hawaii respectfully urges the Council to continue to maintain its headquarters here in Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Business, Economic Development and Tourism is respectfully requested to meet with the President of the Pacific Basin Economic Council to express the support of the State of Hawaii for the Council and its headquarters in Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Pacific Basin Economic Council, the President of the Pacific Basin Economic Council, and the Director of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Report Title:

Expressing support for the Pacific Basin Economic Council.