(a) To further the goals of a sound economy, stable employment, and a desirable quality of life, the legislature declares that the state has a commitment to foster the economy of Alaska through purposeful development of the state's abundant natural resources and productive capacity. It is the legislature's intent that this development

(1) offer long-term benefits and increased employment to Alaskans by strengthening and diversifying the state's economic base and encouraging new activities;

(2) provide opportunities for increased personal income or reduced living costs by creating activity in economic sectors;

(3) have a positive effect on the revenue needs and fiscal conditions of the state and local communities;

(4) be undertaken after consideration of the social and economic views of citizens impacted by the development, and only after adequate protection is assured for Alaska's environment.

(b) To take advantage of investment opportunities afforded by Alaska's abundant natural resources and productive capacity, the legislature finds that the state should undertake activities that serve as a catalyst to responsible economic development in the state for the benefit of its citizens. It is the policy of the state to

(1) develop and provide information to domestic and foreign investors to use in evaluating project feasibility;

(2) with cooperation from investors, identify constraints to orderly and beneficial economic development and work with government agencies to eliminate unnecessary impediments to economic development;

(3) with cooperation from investors, identify constraints to economic development that would impede the extraction, production, and transport of resources to markets and manufactured products, and implement capital improvement or other programs to resolve the deficiencies;

(4) provide a stable tax and regulatory climate that encourages expansion of the state's economic base;

(5) encourage “value-added” processing in the state;

(6) improve the state's domestic and international competitive position by offering economic incentives that support the constitutional mandates for utilization, development, and conservation of natural resources.