Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lemanu P. S. Mauga departed the territory last Thursday night, accompanied by some cabinet members, to attend and speak at the 2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit set for May 1-4 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland — just outside of Washington D.C.

Prior to his departure, the governor, appointed Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale, as acting governor, until his return to the territory. No date is known at press time of when Lemanu returns.

The Governor’s Chief of Staff, Loa Tauapai Laupola, had previously told Samoa News that Lemanu would attend the summit “and he will speak to promote American Samoa and why investors must invest in our Territory.”

According to the summit’s agenda, “Investing in the U.S. Territories” session is scheduled in the afternoon of May 03, with the governors of all 5 territories on the panel for discussion.

This session will be moderated by Diane Farrell, the Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade of the U.S Commerce Department.

Among the ASG delegation heading to the summit while including several cabinet members, also has a group of high school students who will perform at the event.

The Commerce Department posted a group photo of some of the performers, with the caption: “Excited to see this group in their #InvestAmericanSamoa uniform. Safe travels to our Young Ambassadors who are on their way to DC...”

Samoa News notes that the ASG Commerce Department website has a specific section on investing in America Samoa at https://www.doc.as.gov/investamericansamoa

In a national news release late last week, the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC) and SelectUSA announced that the summit brings U.S President Joe Biden’s “Investing in America Agenda to the Global stage.”

“We’re excited to come together at this year’s Investment Summit to celebrate the successful ventures of the SelectUSA investment partners and forge new paths for future growth happening under President Biden’s economic agenda,” U.S Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo is quoted in the news release.

According to the agenda, Lemanu is among the nation’s governors confirmed to attend and speak at the summit, which will be a platform for never-before released announcements by foreign investors, detailing their investment and expansion plans in the United States.

Several US government officials are already on the list of speakers as well as top executives of companies from around the world.

SelectUSA — which is housed within USDOC’s International Trade Administration — assists U.S. economic development organizations to compete globally for investment by providing information, a platform for international marketing, and high-level advocacy, according to USDOC.

Summit details at https://www.selectusasummit.us