We receive millions of dollars every year for food stamps, welfare, education, and other programs in return for the use of our lands by the U.S. military. If we want to move toward becoming an incorporated territory or even independent, we need to begin thinking about where we are now and where we want to be in the next fifty to one hundred years.
It is unrealistic to think that the majority of Guamanians would want Guam to become a closed economy. In order to continue enjoying modern conveniences, the economy must continue to grow, preferably at a slow stable pace. The economy must also continue to move, just like a machine. In order for these things to happen, Guam must be able to import and export products and services. As you may know, we already import over 98 percent of our products. Unfortunately, there is not enough priority placed on the recordkeeping and analysis of products coming in and out of the island. Why is this important? Well, did you know that one of the top products we import is bottled water? This is good for the business importing the products, but has long term negative effects on the environment and does not address the real issue of providing consistently safe and good-tasting tap water. Many will argue that we just don’t have the means to provide a good export industry on Guam because our labor costs are higher than countries such as the Philippines and China. In addition, transportation costs and regulations hinder the ability of certain products to be exported to other countries. I believe that these barriers to export need to be addressed and some of these challenges can be solved if we have the support of our government of Guam administration, our senators, our delegate to Congress, the federal government, our professional organizations, and most importantly, our residents.
Exporting products made and/or manufactured on Guam is currently being done on a small scale, yet there is potential for the creation of viable and successful export industries. The following are examples of Guam export products:
• Value-added fruits and vegetables
• Fresh cut flowers
• Aluminum and other metals (Investing in the needed machines to recycle these metals can provide local jobs and create a viable industry.)
• Aquaculture
• Trainers and consultants.
• Education and certification. (Programs focusing on English and marine biology are two areas that work well.)
• Sports and cultural tourism.
• Medicine and healthcare. (The University of Guam would be the perfect location for a teaching and research medical center. The university already conducts research on diseases that affect our local and regional population. It would make sense that this facility could become the medical hub in the region.)
On Nov. 18, the Bank of Guam Women in Business Program at the Guam Small Business Development Center will be hosting the annual Women in Business Conference, “Build your Business through Export and Microcredit,” at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Tumon. This working conference will feature experts that will discuss legal issues and regulations, funding, marketing, and resources available for businesses interested in selling their products and/or services outside of Guam. If you would like to learn more about exporting and how it can help your business, call the Guam SBDC at 671-735-2590. Selling Guam through exporting can be our first real step to independence.
DENISE MENDIOLA HERTSLET
Mangilao, Guam
