Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Economic Development Council (ASEDC) – a privately owned business in American Samoa — has received a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).

ASEDC chairperson, John Wasko, explains that the UEI is the gateway to federal funding opportunities for private sector businesses.

“Without a UEI a business has no access to the federal grant application process.”

ASEDC is a leading Indo-Pacific proponent of EV seabed critical mineral receiving, refining and battery manufacturing in American Samoa.

EV minerals are rare earth elements such as lithium, nickel and cobalt and are used to manufacture electric vehicle batteries. They are found in abundance in the deep ocean floor.