HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-03-16 Letter to Mayors Alan Arakawa, Bernard Carvalho, Kirk Caldwell RE: Americas Competitiveness Exchange Program ,`�...4S;•.. Wil Okabe
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Barbara J. Kossow
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County of Hawai`i
Office of the Mayor
25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553
KONA. 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740
(808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440
March 16, 2018
Honorable Alan Arakawa, Maui County Mayor
Honorable Bernard Carvalho, Kauai County Mayor
Honorable Kirk Caldwell, City and County of Honolulu Mayor
Dear Mayors Arakawa, Carvalho and Caldwell,
RE: Americas Competitiveness Exchange Program
Last month, we four mayors signed off on a letter of intent to host the 2019
Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) Program in conjunction with the Hawaii
Chamber of Commerce. Subsequently, each county participated in a briefing with
leadership from the Organization of the Americas, and this County carried out additional
research and analysis.
I have determined that the County of Hawai'i will step back and not participate
further in the ACE initiative as the cost/benefit with the targeted countries and initiatives
is not sufficiently aligned with the County's goals to commit its currently limited
resources toward the projected outcomes.
I wish you and your counties all the very best in pursuing opportunities through
the ACE Program.
Sincerely,
Harry Ki (/
Mayor
c: Sherry Menor-McNamara, Hawaii Chamber of Commerce
County of Hawar,is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.