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Governor of American Samoa, Hon Togiola T.A. Tulafono
OPENING SESSION: "Bring Your Business to the World"
Benefits and Incentives of Investing in the South Pacific's Business Hub and the Islands of Opportunity, American Samoa
For discussion and presentation to be made on:
The STABILITY and SECURITY of Operating in U.S. Soil
Duty Free Access to the U.S.
Tax Structure
Minimum Wage
Industrial Park
Infrastructure
Financing
Worker Training Program
Education System
Air and Waterborne Transport
International Communications
Health Care
Housing
Leisure Time/Recreation Acitivities
Trade & Investment Business Opportunities
American Samoa Department of Commerce (DOC)
Togiola T.A. Tulafono was born on February 28, 1947 on Aunu'u Island, American Samoa. He attended elementary schools in Vatia, the Marist Brothers' School in Atu'u, and graduated from the High School of American Samoa-Samoana in 1966.
Upon graduation from high school, he became a police officer for one year, graduating from the Honolulu Police Academy in 1967. He attended Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska as an American Samoa Government Academic Scholar, and Received the Chadron State Special Talents Scholarship Award in 1969. In 1970, Chadron awarded him a bachelor's degree in political science and sociology.
After graduating from Chadron, he became a Legal Assistant in the American
Samoa Attorney General's Office, and served as Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of Samoan Affairs from 1970 to 1972. He attended Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas from 1972 to 1975, receiving his Doctor of Laws degree in 1975. He was admitted to the Kansas Supreme Court and the High Court of American Samoa in 1975.
From 1975 to 1977, he was a partner in an American Samoan law firm. He served as Vice President of South Pacific Island Airways from 1976 until 1978. In 1978, he was appointed as a District Court Judge, serving in that capacity until 1980, when he was elected as a Senator from Sa'ole County (1980-1984) and then from Sua County (1989-1996). While in the Legislature, he served as Chairman for many committees, including Ways and Means, Judiciary, Senate Rules, Senate Select Investigation Committee, and Transportation, Communications, and Wildlife and Natural Resources. From 1975 to the present, he has been a member of bar associations in Kansas and American Samoa, and was a member of the American Bar Association from 1975 to 1980. From 1979 to 1983, he served as chairman of the inaugural Board of Directors of the American Samoa Power Authority. From 1993 to 1996, he served as chairman of the inaugural Board of Higher Education. He has been listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the West and Outstanding Young Men of America. He has been a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Pago Pago Rotary Club, and was elected as Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa in 1996 and 2000. He was sworn in as Governor on April 7, 2003, after the sudden passing of Governor Tauese Sunia, and was elected as Governor on November 16, 2004. He was sworn in as Governor on January 3, 2005.
Togiola was elected in 2005 as Chairman of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa until the Assembly of July 2006, where he was elected Vice Chairman until July 2008. He is also District President for the American Samoa District, Boy Scouts of America.
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