Calvo and a Guam delegation are in Japan to court Japanese businesses to invest in Guam.
The two leaders assured each other of their support for the buildup, called the Agreed Implementation Plan between the United States and Japan.
“I’m very grateful for this assurance,” Calvo said. “There’s been so much doubt over the past year that’s come from a lot of rumors and conjecture.
We’ve secured support from the President and the Defense department. Now we’ve confirmed support from the most powerful defense authority in Japan. This buildup is moving nowhere but forward,” the governor said in a statement.
Calvo also stressed that Guam’s ties to Japanese tourism is important and the relationship must grow.
He provided a chronology of the long-standing relations between Guam and Japan.
“We want to see billions more that will translate into tens of thousands of more jobs for our people.”
Calvo met with some of Japan’s largest companies who have shown an interest in investing in Guam.
“Jobs, jobs, jobs,” Calvo emphasized, “that’s what these investments will bring to our people.”
Sixty executives representing companies ranging from those involved in construction to architectural and engineering firms and investment businesses participated in Guam’s business presentations.
The governor’s team presented information on tourism, the airport, utilities and infrastructure, the military buildup, and the island’s affordable housing program.
The Guam delegation consists of Consolidated Commission on Utilities Chairman Simon Sanchez; affordable housing coordinator and Guam Housing and Urban Renewable Authority Executive Director Marcel Camacho; A.B. Won Pat International Airport Executive Manager Mary Torres; Guam Economic Development Authority Administrator Karl Pangelinan; and Special Assistant Henry Taitano. Local businessmen Tor Gudmensen and John Pagliosotto also joined the mission.
Opportunities
During the meeting, representatives from the Japanese companies asked the Guam delegation about business opportunities on the island.
Calvo gave his commitment that he will put together an action team that can help these companies invest in Guam.
“We will assure that the process will be moved within regulations, but at a quicker pace,” said Calvo.
These assurances came as one prospective investor asked what the governor could do about the cumbersome process of obtaining a business license. This investor, who is familiar with Guam’s practices, mentioned that in some cases, an investor needs to get 60 signatures of approval from various government of Guam sources just to get a business license. Calvo said he recognizes the problem and will do something about it.
