MALAKAL, PALAU. Former President Kuniwo Nakamura of the Republic of Palau has been appointed by Century Insurance Co., Ltd. (CIC) to serve as the company's general agent in Palau. In addition to the new Palau office, CIC does business in Saipan, Pohnpei and Chuuk, and plans to expand to the Marshall Islands and Guam, according to company officials.

"We are very pleased to welcome former President Nakamura to our business family of agents and brokers," said CIC President David M. Sablan. "In addition to expanding our commitment to serve the region, we have launched an improvement program designed to meet global standards of service. We welcome the help of respected executives like President Nakamura."

Organized in February 1988 in Saipan, CIC is the first full-fledged non-life insurance company to be established in the CNMI. CIC offers all lines of non-life insurance such as fire, auto, marine, liability, and bonds. In November 2000, the company obtained ISO 9002 certification, making it the first and only domestic insurance company in this region to earn this international quality standard. This year, the company installed new customized IT software with web capability, to further enhance the service offered to CIC's customers.

On Saipan, CIC is well known for its fast, efficient and round-the-clock claim services. Called "on-site attendance," this service makes assistance available to all policyholders by selected claims personnel, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

CIC is an affiliate of Tan Holdings Corporation, a diverse group of companies, which serves such industries as apparel manufacturing, logistics services, ground handling, retail, amusement, movie theatres, real estate, tourism, banking and finance, fishing, and aviation.