PH firm to bring jobs to American Samoa

PAGO PAGO—American Samoa officials expect up to 1,000 jobs will be created when a Filipino company invests $100 million in a new food-processing plant here.

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga said on Friday that executives from A.V.M. Bernardo Engineering were in the territory to finalize the paper work on the project.

The company expects to begin construction early next year, with operations beginning the following year, said Keniseli Lafaele, director of the American Samoa Commerce Department.

The plant will first focus on frozen fish-based sausage, ham, nuggets and patties, Lafaele said. It will also produce coconut water, mango and other juices, he added.

The products will be sold in the US market duty-free because they will be made in a US territory. This is a factor that is driving the project, Lafaele said. The products will also be available for export in the Pacific region.

The government is considering allowing the company to import plant construction materials and equipment duty-free as an incentive, Lafaele said.

A.V.M president Tony Bernardo on Thursday gave a private presentation of the company’s plans to the governor and several lawmakers.

Bernardo couldn’t be reached for comment, but he said Thursday night on state-run television that A.V.M had been in business for 22 years and had several operations outside the Philippines.