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CNMI House members outline push to diversify economy beyond tourism, cite flight and casino setbacks
Summary
House Speaker Edmund Villegomez and colleagues told visiting students the Northern Mariana Islands is pursuing investments, marketing changes and regulatory tools to reduce reliance on tourism, but said paused charter flights, legal disputes over casinos and other factors are hindering recovery.
During a classroom visit to the Northern Mariana Islands legislature, House Speaker Edmund Villegomez said lawmakers are pursuing industry diversification — including courting manufacturing investors, expanding the Commonwealth Economic Development Authority's marketing role and exploring free-trade zones — to reduce the commonwealth’s heavy reliance on tourism.
"In the legislature, this is where the law making process starts," Villegomez said, explaining the House’s lead role on appropriations. He said the House has met with the governor and outside investors and has recently discussed semiconductor manufacturing as one potential new industry.
Villegomez described several obstacles to bringing visitors back and to attracting investors. He said some charter flights from…
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