Ira Pastor, ideaXme exponential health ambassador and founder of Bioquark interviews Alan Seid, presidential candidate for The Republic of Palau.
Microstates
Today on ideaXme we are going to talk about the topics of micro-states, island nations, and innovation.
A microstate, or mini-state, is a sovereign state having a very small population or very small land area, and usually both.
An island country is a country whose primary territory consists of one or more islands or parts of islands.
Many island countries are geographically small (obvious exceptions include Japan and the United Kingdom), typically rely heavily on imports, and are greatly affected by changes in the global economy.
Due to the nature of island countries their economies are often characterized by being smaller, somewhat isolated from world trade and economy, more vulnerable to shipping costs, and more likely to suffer environmental damage to infrastructure. The dominant industry for many island countries is tourism.
The Republic of Palau
Palau, officially known as the Republic of Palau, is an island country located in the western Pacific Ocean. The country contains approximately 340 islands, and together with parts of the Federated States of Micronesia, forms the western chain of the Caroline Islands.
After World War 2, along with other Pacific Islands, Palau was made a part of the United States-governed Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1947.
After voting against joining the Federated States of Micronesia in 1979, the islands gained full sovereignty in 1994 under a Compact of Free Association with the United States.
The country uses the United States dollar as its currency. 2017 census data had approximately 22,000 people living in Palau, with a 2018 GDP estimate of approximately $300 million.
The islands’ culture mixes Micronesian, Melanesian, Asian, and Western elements. Ethnic Palauans, the majority of the population, are of mixed Micronesian, Melanesian, and Austronesian descent. A smaller proportion of the population is descended from Japanese.
Politically, Palau is a presidential republic in free association with the United States, which provides defense, funding, and access to social services. Legislative power is concentrated in the bicameral Palau National Congress.
While currently Palau’s economy is based mainly on tourism, subsistence agriculture and fishing, due to its unique characteristics, location and flexibility as a small nation, has some very fascinating possibilities for transforming itself economically in the 21st century and serving as a very important innovation ecosystem to try and develop new initiatives within the region.
Alan Seid
Mr. Alan Seid started his political career at the young age of 23 where he became part of the movement to promote Palau’s Independence from the US. He was able to join the team that negotiated the Compact of Free Association of which Palau gained its Independence from the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands to become a full member of the United Nations.
He was elected to serve in the Palau House of Delegates in 1988 and served in that role for 3 terms for a total of 12 years. He then followed that as a member of the Palau Senate for one term.
Currently, Mr. Seid has begun a run for the Presidency of Palau. (The ideaXme show does not endorse political candidates of parties).
His extensive innovation centric platform includes, but is not limited to:
The development of Palau as a hub for regenerative medicine and medical tourism in the region; the development of the medical cannabis production value chain in Palau and for export; novel, innovative, regional appropriate, eco-cleanup and renewable energy initiatives, with emphasis on Greenway Revolution technology and products, and Dr. Elaine Wang, who is one of the Board members of Greenway Revolution joins him on the call; initiatives to empower the younger generation of Palauan entrepreneurs, to stay on (or come back) to the island, by providing funds and business training; promoting the concepts of Palau becoming a financial center with the utilization of blockchain technology while setting up a favorable and efficient tax regime.
On this show we will hear from Mr. Seid:
His background, his interest in policy, technology, and why he is running for the presidency of Palau. The importance of national sovereignty in executing on novel innovation goals. His thoughts on the development of Palau as a hub for regenerative medicine and medical tourism in the region. His thoughts on the development of the medical cannabis production value chain in Palau and for regional export. About Greenway Revolution technology and products. Finally, we will hear about his initiatives to empower the younger generation of Palauan entrepreneurs, to stay on (or come back) to the island, by providing funds and business training.
Credits: Ira Pastor interview video, text, and audio.
Follow Ira Pastor on Twitter: @IraSamuelPastor
If you liked this interview, be sure to check out our interview on the importance of health diplomacy for global health!
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