By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Guam News Now) — When you think of U.S. tech and business hubs, New York or San Francisco might come to mind. But a small island in the Pacific is — again — making a big splash in the world of international investment.
It’s America’s westernmost territory, known for stunning beaches, rich culture — and now, big business potential.
“After our first year, we found that there was a lot of interest in Guam,” said Ed Camacho, the business and economic development manager at the Guam Economic Development Authority.
Camacho and his team were recently in Washington, D.C., pitching something bold: Why not launch your business in the U.S., but from the edge of Asia?
“It’s been very successful. We’ve had a lot of attention coming over to our booth to learn more about Guam,” Camacho said.
And for good reason- Guam offers unique access for Asian companies. Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines are just a three-to-four-hour flight away.
“Our proximity to Asia. We’re three to four hours away from over 3 billion people. We find that Guam is the gateway to the U.S.,” said Camacho.
Camacho says Guam is the perfect launchpad — set up here, operate in the same time zone as Asia, manufacture regionally, and access the U.S. with fewer hurdles.
“You can set up your financial operations in Guam, still do manufacturing in Asia, but use Guam as a stepping point into the mainland U.S.A. That is our greatest value,” he said.
And it’s not just a pitch — it’s working. Interest is revving up in electric vehicle parts, drone manufacturing, data centers and more. Some of it is still in the “due diligence” stage, but Guam’s biggest selling point? Incentives — big ones.
“We can rebate and abate income tax and we have one level of tax only that’s paid into corporate income taxes, paid into the government in Guam. So there are no state-level, no municipal — one tax only,” said Camacho.
The Economic Development Authority administers a special incentive tool called the Qualifying Certificate Program.
The program has built resorts — “Built at least a dozen hotels,” Camacho said — grown tourism and is now ready for industries that bring higher-paying jobs and economic diversification beyond tourism.
“It’s important for us to diversify our economy, especially after COVID-19,” said Camacho. “We need to bring in more financing, more investments into Guam that diversifies our side of the federal government and our tourism.”
From South America to Southeast Asia, companies are starting to see Guam not just as a dot on the map, but as a bridge between markets.
For Camacho, his team, and the whole island:
“SelectUSA has been a very good thing for Guam. That’s why we continue to come back,” said Camacho.
Coming back four years and counting — proving that paradise can also be your next HQ.
Since inception, the SelectUSA Investment Summit has helped generate over $135 billion in new investment projects, creating more than 105,000 jobs across the United States and its territories.
