NATIONAL HARBOR, MD (Office of the Guam Governor) —Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero represented the island of Guam at the SelectUSA Investment Summit held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor, Maryland, actively engaging with senior federal officials, global business leaders, and prospective investors to strengthen Guam’s position as a premier destination for strategic investment in the Indo-Pacific region.
In a significant highlight of the summit, Governor Leon Guerrero attended the opening plenary session featuring Howard Lutnick, secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The plenary session set the tone for the summit, underscoring the Trump Administration’s commitment to attracting global investment to the United States and its territories.
Governor Leon Guerrero’s participation in the plenary with Secretary Lutnick reflects Guam’s growing prominence as a strategic U.S. investment hub. As a U.S. territory with unique geopolitical advantages in the Western Pacific, Guam continues to attract federal attention and private sector interest.
“Guam is open for business, and our participation at SelectUSA is a testament to our commitment to bringing world-class investment to our island. Engaging directly with Secretary Lutnick and hearing his vision for American commerce reinforces that Guam is not just a strategic military asset — we are a thriving economic gateway to Asia and the Pacific,” Leon Guerrero said.
She also attended the summit’s panel session titled “Future Ready: Trends Reshaping Business and Society,” joining industry leaders and policymakers to discuss the landscape of investment in the United States and the competitive advantages that American territories offer to foreign investors.
The panel explored a broad range of forward-looking topics central to the global investment conversation, including recent major investments into the United States, the inherent advantages of doing business within the U.S. framework, and accelerating industry trends driving economic transformation. Discussions also focused on emerging technologies shaping the next generation of commerce, high-impact new product launches, recent significant investment announcements, and macro-level industry forecasts with big-picture implications for global markets.
Leon Guerrero used the platform to highlight Guam’s strategic value proposition — its location at the crossroads of East and West, its status as U.S. soil with established legal and regulatory frameworks, and its rapidly developing infrastructure that positions the island as an ideal landing point for businesses seeking access to Asian markets while maintaining the security of U.S. law and protections.
On the first day of the summit, Leon Guerrero, joined by the Guam Economic Development Authority team, officially welcomed foreign investors and visiting delegates to the Guam exhibit booth on the summit’s trade floor. The Guam booth served as a focal point for conversations about the island’s investment climate, available incentives, and strategic opportunities.
The Governor held a series of one-on-one meetings with prospective investors representing sectors of critical importance to Guam’s economic future, including:
• Drone Operations. Investors in unmanned aerial systems and drone technology explored Guam’s potential as a hub for drone testing, logistics, and defense-adjacent commercial applications given its vast Pacific airspace and proximity to major trade routes.
• Data Centers. With Guam’s robust undersea cable infrastructure and its position as a critical node in the transpacific digital highway, the Governor discussed opportunities for data center development on the island, addressing energy capacity, land availability, and government incentive programs.
• Artificial Intelligence Technologies. Conversations with AI sector investors centered on Guam’s capacity to support AI infrastructure development, including compute facilities, research partnerships with local institutions, and Guam’s potential as a test market for AI-driven services across the Asia-Pacific.
The Guam Economic Development Authority team provided detailed briefings to investors on the island’s regulatory environment, tax incentives, workforce development programs, and ongoing infrastructure projects that collectively make Guam an increasingly attractive destination for high-value foreign direct investment.
According to GEDA, “The response from investors at the SelectUSA Summit has been extraordinary. Guam’s unique combination of U.S. legal certainty, Pacific geographic positioning, and a business-friendly government makes us a compelling choice for companies looking to expand their Indo-Pacific footprint.”
