[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 29, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF LUEN THAI GROUP

                                 ______
                                 

                  HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN

                    of the northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 29, 2015

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, today I ask you to join me in celebrating a 
fifty-year story of success that spans not just the Northern Mariana 
Islands or the mid-Pacific region, but three continents and several 
oceans. The Luen Thai Group of companies was founded by Dr. Tan Siu Lin 
in Hong Kong in September 1965, expanded to the Northern Mariana 
Islands and Guam in the 1970s, and now provides many important services 
to our community through its many local, regional, and international 
affiliates.
   The Luen Thai Group is among the most successful apparel and 
accessories supply chain service providers in the world. The apparel 
business is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and produced 175 
million units of garments, bags and shoes last year.
   The company has invested heavily in the tourism industry in our 
region and continues to drive the expansion of tourism today. Luen Thai 
affiliate Century Travel and Tours is responsible for bringing 
thousands of visitors to our islands and for providing for their 
enjoyment during their stay with professional, quality services in air 
and ground passenger transportation.
   Luen Thai Fishing Venture is a ``one-stop'' seafood provider, 
offering a full range of supply chain services from fleet operation, 
base operation, and processing in the central and western Pacific 
regions, to marketing and sales in Japan, the United States and China.
   Luen Thai is also a provider of third party logistics as well as air 
and sea freight forwarding. The synergy created by these three areas of 
activity not only supports Luen Thai's own growth, but also helps 
connect the many small islands scattered over our vast ocean region, 
contributing to economic development and lifting the quality of life 
for those who inhabit Micronesia.
   And affiliate Asia Pacific Airlines' services match the needs of a 
wide-ranging clientele. APA is a US-registered airline and a reliable 
air cargo service carrier in the western Pacific region.
   Luen Thai has been involved in shipping since its early days. Along 
with partners, Luen Thai set up Mariana Express Lines, Ltd. in 1997 to 
increase the supply of shipping services in the Micronesian region. 
MELL's reliable and regular shipping services have brought business 
growth to Luen Thai Group as well as other enterprises in the region.
   With service stations in 12 countries across Asia and America, 
affiliate CTSI is the largest provider of logistics services in 
Micronesia. It also works closely with MELL and APA to provide a full 
range of logistics and support services, including logistics 
consultancy and training, as well as customized IT solutions which 
support service integration, real time information and efficient 
operations. CTSI strives to provide the best to its customers by 
fostering a corporate culture that champions quality service, and by 
continually investing in both personnel as well as the hardware of the 
company.
   Affiliate POI Aviation provides a broad range of round-the-clock 
services in ground handling, passenger and cargo handling, airport 
operation, and aircraft maintenance, to Saipan International Airport 
and its users.
   Affiliate Century Insurance was established in the 1980s as an agent 
for a number of multi-national non-life insurance companies to issue 
and underwrite policies on commercial and domestic types of insurance 
in Micronesia. It was granted a Certificate of Authority to operate as 
the first fully-fledged non-life insurance company in CNMI.
   For a long time, the sheer size of Micronesia has made it difficult 
and costly to provide a quality health service to the small populations 
scattered over its islands. Luen Thai met this challenge by investing 
in TakeCare, Inc. TakeCare provides medical insurance and owns FHP 
Health Center. One of the longest serving health service providers in 
the region, FHP operates twelve centers of medical care on Saipan and 
Guam which cover the full spectrum of wellness, both in sickness and 
health, from monitoring physical fitness to dispensing quick responses 
to urgent medical needs such as transfer service to major medical 
facilities overseas.
   Affiliate Saipan Tribune is a daily newspaper that keeps the people 
of Saipan informed about life on the island and world events while its 
web version serves as a window to the islands for the outside world. 
The Tribune is a very important part of the community fabric.
   Luen Thai also owns Cosmos Distributing Co. Ltd. and Dickerson & 
Quinn, which is a vast network in Micronesia for the distribution of a 
myriad of international brands.
   Tango, Inc. brings great, state-of-the art cinema to the western 
Pacific region. Today, the company owns 17 movie screens, 30 bowling 
alleys, and other entertainment and dining outlets in the region.
   Realty Management Services provides professional management and 
rental services in Guam and Saipan, including for residential, 
commercial and industrial properties. The first-rate service and green 
initiatives of RMS have set benchmarks in the region.
   Dr. Tan Siu Lin's values and beliefs are the guiding principles of 
the operation and development of businesses in Luen Thai. Dr. Tan 
believes strongly in giving back to the communities where Luen Thai 
operates.
   In 2009, Luen Thai launched the ``iServe. iGiveback.'' program that 
incorporated all business units and their employees. The group of 
companies has also shown its support for educational, art, cultural, as 
well as sport activities and programs with generous sponsorships.
   The first Tan Siu Lin Foundation was established in Saipan in 1986, 
followed by others in Guam, Hong Kong, and China, to oversee and 
coordinate Dr. Tan's wide-ranging charitable works in many different 
places.
   The history of the Luen Thai group of companies is an extraordinary 
success story that reflects the vision and dedication of Dr. Tan and 
his family. The company and its affiliates bring employment, products, 
services, and business opportunities to the Northern Mariana Islands, 
to our entire region, and around the world.

                          ____________________