By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
GOVERNOR David M. Apatang and other CNMI officials on Monday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the One Stop Business Permitting Center on Capital Hill.
Located at the former Medicaid Agency office, the one-stop shop houses permitting representatives from the Department of Finance, CNMI Zoning, the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, the Department of Public Works, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., and the Department of Commerce’s Registrar of Corporations and its newly created Foreign Corporation Liaison Office.
Apatang, through Executive Order 2025-4, created the center on Nov. 18, 2025, to serve as a centralized hub to coordinate and facilitate all business-related permitting requirements from various government agencies. Its core objectives include streamlining and simplifying the permitting process; reducing paperwork, duplicative requirements, and processing times; improving interagency coordination and transparency; providing centralized information, forms, and assistance to businesses; and promoting investment and compliance through efficient service delivery.
The governor designated the Department of Commerce as the lead agency to oversee the centralized permitting process through the department’s Foreign Corporation Liaison Office, headed by Kioshi Cody.
In his remarks Monday, the governor said the opening of the center — long overdue — had been pursued by several administrations but was never brought to fruition until now. Last month, he said, he directed Commerce to establish a single location to house much of the government’s business permitting services, easing the burden on CNMI business owners.
He noted that within 40 days, the administration delivered on that goal. Apatang recognized and thanked Commerce Secretary Remy Mafnas and officials from the other participating agencies for moving quickly on the initiative.
“I hope this is a great gift for the New Year. Lt. Gov. Dennis Mendiola and I are dedicated to streamlining processes for our business community and pursuing reforms in our local government that do just that, especially during this time of economic recovery and austerity measures,” the governor said.
Mafnas said the opening of the One Stop center marks a practical milestone for economic and business development in the Commonwealth.
“We are cutting the ribbon on the One Stop Business Permitting Center, a place designed to make it easier to start, expand, and operate a business in the CNMI,” she said.
For too long, Mafnas said, permitting has required entrepreneurs to move from office to office — sometimes repeating the same information, navigating different procedures, and waiting longer than necessary.
“That process costs time, money, and momentum. It can discourage investment and hold back local innovation,” she said.
The One Stop center, Mafnas said, “is our response. It brings key permitting partners together so business owners can find information, submit requirements, and move through approvals with clearer guidance and better coordination. It is built on a simple principle: government should be accessible, transparent, and service-oriented.”
Mafnas recognized the Commerce staff and interagency partners who made the center possible, including those responsible for business licensing, fire safety, building and public works, zoning, and environmental health.
“To our business community: this center is for you. We want you to know what is required, why it is required, and how to complete the process efficiently and in compliance with the law. We are committed to continuous improvement — listening to feedback, reducing duplication, and modernizing workflows, including expanding online access over time,” Mafnas said.
The One Stop Business Permitting Center is not just a new office, she said, but a signal of how the government intends to do business — working together across agencies, respecting applicants’ time, and supporting responsible growth.
The center began operations Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. It will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Commerce and its interagency partners will continue coordinating to reach full operating capability in the new year.
Project leads for the One Stop center are Clement “CJ” Bermudes Jr., special adviser to the secretary; Kioshi Cody, acting director of the Office of Foreign Corporation Liaison; and John David “JD” Reyes, registrar of corporations.
