The Guam Economic Development Agency is now connected with the U.S. Embassy in Japan to link the island with the Foreign Commercial Service in Tokyo.
Calvo met with Ambassador Roos at the embassy, where they discussed several issues.
Calvo is in Japan on an economic trade mission to bring Japanese business to Guam, in anticipation of the military buildup.
Roos was particularly interested in the military buildup, the push for the visa waiver program with China, the state of public schools on Guam, and the Japanese funding for infrastructure projects on the island.
“I don’t think the U.S. Ambassador to Japan would be interested in our infrastructure, schools and economy if the U.S. didn’t have solid plans to move troops to Guam from Japan,” Calvo said.
“The ambassador was interested in our economy and in the lives of children on Guam. That’s a telling sign of his expectations of the Agreed Implementation Plan.”
The governor’s economic development advisor, Henry Taitano, and Chief of Staff Franklin Arriola also attended the meeting.
Taitano is coordinating with U.S. Embassy staff to link GEDA and the Guam Visitors Bureau with the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.
This link with the service will help Guam-based companies to export their goods and services to Japan.
“Guam’s biggest export is tourism. We export our hospitality industry to tourists who come to Guam, and these tourists invest their foreign money into our businesses,” the governor said.
The U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce. These professionals help U.S. companies in exporting or increasing sales to new global markets.
GEDA, GVB and the Governor’s Office will be working with the embassy staff to identify opportunities for Guam’s marketing efforts.
“This is another progressive effort of the administration to enhance our marketing abilities abroad so we can bring foreign investment into the island,” said Calvo.
It is Calvo’s intention to link Guam with the Foreign Commercial Service offices in China, Taiwan, the Philippines and Korea in the governor’s upcoming trade missions to those countries, according to the release.
