How Would You Design Paradise?

Imagine a cool breeze in a tropical setting, white sandy beaches, and crystal clear water as far as your eyes can see. Roughly 340 islands in pristine condition interspersed among the world’s 9th largest marine sanctuary, 500,000 square kilometers protecting more than 1,300 species of fish, 700 kinds of coral, and the most plant and animal types in the region; many endemic or rare. Clean, fresh air, complimenting ~21,000 inhabitants, mostly native islanders committed to an eco-friendly way of life.

This is Palau!

Already a scenically magical paradise often referred as one of the seven wonders of the underwater world, the country is in transformation. Acknowledged globally as a champion of Earth-first practices, Palau has set its sights on raising the bar once again. Creating a plan for success is now in motion.

Michelangelo once said, “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.” Developing Palau’s national master plan is an incredible opportunity for discovery, yet with the added responsibility to protect, restore and conserve its ecosystems, natural resources, cultural heritage and natural beauty.

Capitalizing on over two decades of analysis by the Palauan government, traditional leaders, NGOs and the private sector, a strict set of principles and controls guide infrastructure design and business investment. It’s about quality, not quantity.

The national master plan choreographs this process, optimizing all aspects from concept to operation ensuring a win-win-win scenario. The private sector can invest capital with confidence. The government can foster economic growth with empowerment. Palauan’s can improve quality of life without risk to their way of living. This is a team effort, blending the past with the future, where the only limit is one’s imagination.

Are You Up For The Challenge?

While the national master plan sets the stage, foreign investment is what makes the opportunity come alive. To push the limits of innovation, creativity must be permitted to influence the manner of implementation. Traditional thinkers need not apply!

It’s a blank canvas. You are the artist. The only question is how would you design paradise?

Over the next few months the planning team will be holding public meetings, publishing requirements, and inviting participation from the global community. A living process, change is inevitable. However, the following are some of the initial guiding principles:

• Sustainable and Green development are the foundation for everything, a minimum standard in both creating infrastructures and business services. Environmental protection is not just a theme it’s a practice that must be demonstrated by the participant, articulated in the design-build process, and infused within the end product.
• Architectural design and engineering projects are not independent entities, but elements performing within a complex ecological system. A powerful aesthetic experience incorporating Palauan culture and history is mandatory. Palau seeks to break traditional boundaries, leading not following.
• National interconnectivity in harmony with data privacy is achievable, and Palau intends to prove it. Greenfield and brownfield projects must deliver intelligent solutions, enhancing knowledge management, applying data science platforms, and automating business processes, integrating with Palau’s national communications platform.
• A significant portion of project benefits will remain in country. Development impact plans must demonstrate improvement to the quality of life for Palau’s residents, a positive, tangible outcome. The plan must offer milestones and metrics, upon which the participant will adhere to, along with penalties for non-compliance.

Palau has been evolving for many years. In concert with the government, reputable organizations like the Asian Development Bank, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and several foreign governments like the United States, Japan and Taiwan in particular, have built a foundation of knowledge from which to act. The national master plan capitalizes on these efforts, introducing the following early investment opportunities:

• Telecommunications – A Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) system will be built as the initial vertical of a countrywide communications platform. As the first project implemented under the national master plan it establishes the technology standards and practices for a smart nation.
• Transportation – An international airport and multipurpose seaport are intended for Koror. Gateways to Palau, they affect every aspect of economic development and growth. To avoid diminished returns such critical infrastructure must be carefully considered. While an unsolicited proposal has been received for the airport, conformity with stated plan objectives and design-build standards is under review.
• Tourism – An ecotourism program will be instituted to integrate, influence and promote plan components, infrastructures and businesses. The deliverable is a solid action plan that aligns with and supports the Tri Org, driving Palau’s tourism industry.

Palau has a strong desire to be the premiere ecotourism-retirement destination, technology innovation leader, and international offshore financial center. This presents a number of investment opportunities like 5-star resorts and luxury living, along with modernization of critical sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries, and social services. Requests for Information, Qualifications, and Proposals are published as each project materializes with an emphasis on Best Value Procurement. Over $1 billion in foreign investment has been proffered to date, the program just getting started!

The saying "Small is Beautiful" is not a cliche in Palau. It is a reality. As large economies face the intractable problems and promises of size and space, Palau faces the stubborn dilemma of scarcity. Small size and fragile environment put a high premium on the use of natural resources. Development is based on the fullest utilization of the nation's natural and human resources, requiring a carefully crafted implementation process to protect national resources and cultural heritage while promoting foreign investment. A true global partnership is desired to create an enabling environment for success.

Visionaries like Sir Richard Branson, Bill Gates and Elon Musk did not get where they are today by following the masses. Recognizing that no plan survives first contact, the planning team welcomes public and private sector collaboration, encourages ingenuity, and stands ready to pivot as necessary for the betterment of Palau. The glass is viewed as half full… After all, paradise should be enjoyed!

Ready to participate?

Under the Office of the President, the program is managed by the Ministry of State through its embassy in Manila, Philippines given proximity to a large foreign presence – other embassies, NGOs and investors. Information may be obtained by visiting the Palau Economic Development Authority website at www.peda.pw.

On behalf of His Excellency Tommy E. Remengesau Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, the Honorable Billy G. Kuartei, Minister of State, and Mr. Ngerikl Baules, Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of the Republic of Palau, Manila, Philippines, we hope you will join us on this journey into Paradise!

Michael Goldsmith is a prolific author, speaker, instructor and advisor to governments, non-governmental organizations and multinational companies, on such topics as international development, business optimization, technology innovation, critical infrastructure protection, and governance, risk and compliance. A U.S. citizen residing in the Philippines, in addition to managing a technology innovation center, he currently serves as senior advisor to the Office of the President (Palau) leading development of the national master plan. He may be reached directly at [email protected].

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