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The Pacific Islands Matter for America Launch
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Tue, March 8, 2022 - 11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET

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Sarah Wang

The Official Inaugural Launch of 

THE PACIFIC ISLANDS MATTER FOR AMERICA /
AMERICA MATTERS FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

Tuesday, March 8, 2022
4:00 – 5:00 PM EST

Speakers included (full biographies):

Ms. Suzanne Puanani Vares-Lum, President, East-West Center
Dr. Satu P. Limaye, Vice President, East-West Center & Director,
East-West Center in Washington
Mr. Keone Nakoa, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs, Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Rep. Ami Bera (CA-7), Co-Chair, Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus
Rep. Ed Case (HI-1), Co-Chair, Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus
Rep. Steve Chabot (OH-1), Co-Chair, Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus
Rep. Brad Sherman (CA-30), Co-Chair, Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus
Rep. Don Young (AK- At Large), Co-Chair, Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus
Ms. Erika L. Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison, Office of the Chief of Staff, The White House
Mr. Mark Lambert, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, United States Department of State
Rep. Aumua Amata Radewagen (American Samoa – At Large), US House of Representatives 
Ms. Cara Allison Marshall, Principal Director, East Asia, OSD-Policy/Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, US Department of Defense
H.E. Dr. Satyendra Prasad, Ambassador of Fiji to the UN, Permanent Mission of Fiji to the United Nations
H.E. Hersey Kyota, Ambassador of Palau to the United States, Embassy of Palau in Washington, DC 
H.E. Arthur Sinodinos, Ambassador of Australia to the United States, Embassy of Australia in Washington, DC
H.E. Rosemary Banks, Ambassador of New Zealand to the United States, New Zealand Embassy to the United States of America
H.E. Gerald M. Zackios, Ambassador of the Republic of Marshall Islands to the United States of America, Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands in Washington, DC

East-West Center in Washington · The Pacific Islands Matter for America/America Matters for the Pacific Islands Launch

The East-West Center, with the support of the US Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs and the cooperation of the Pacific Caucus, launched the inaugural edition of The Pacific Islands Matter for America / America Matters for The Pacific Islands, the premier resource for data and analysis on the relationship between the United States and the Pacific Islands countries following over 150 years of progress towards greater cooperation in matters of diplomacy, defense and security, trade and investment, and education and cultural exchange.

The Pacific Islands Matter for America / America Matters for The Pacific Islands publication and website maps the trade, investment, employment, business, diplomacy, security, education, tourism, and people-to-people connections between the United States and Pacific Islands countries, including the Freely Associated States of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau as well as the US territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam at the national, state, and local levels. The Asia Matters for America initiative is a collaborative partnership with US and Indo-Pacific government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders to recognize and advance the robust and dynamic US-Indo-Pacific relationship. Funding for this project was provided by the US Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs.

Produced by the East-West Center and the Office of Insular Affairs, the inaugural edition of The Pacific Islands Matter for America / America Matters for The Pacific Islands brings to light important facts and figures, including that: 

  • The Pacific Islands region spans 15% of the world's surface area;
  • Pacific Island Economies have a combined GDP of $139 billion;
  • US Relations with the Pacific span over 150 years;
  • The United States partners with Pacific militaries and law enforcement;
  • Under the Pacific Pledge, the US Government has committed about $350 million in assistance to the Pacific Island countries;
  • The United States exports Over $400 million in goods to Pacific Island countries;
  • Over 250,000 US tourists visit Pacific Island countries annually;
  • 57% of US students who studied in the Pacific Islands studied in Fiji;
  • California and Hawai‘i host nearly 50% of the Pacific Islander population in the United States; and
  • The United States shares eight sister city partnerships with five Pacific Island countries.