Marianas Business Journal - Business News From Around The Region

Thursday, May 23rd 2013 8:47 AM Chamorro Standard Time

Volume 11 No. 1 May 20, 2013 - June 2, 2013

Congratulations

(From left) Rita C. Jugo, vice president and commercial credit manager, Bank of Hawaii; Elaine C. Jones, president and chairwoman of the board, Jones & Guerrero Co. Inc.; Rosita S. Adkins, corporate secretary and treasurer, East-West Rental Center; and James L. Adkins, president, East-West Rental Center, and husband of Rosita and 2013 Guam Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame inductee at the Hyatt Regency Guam on May 3.

Guam News

NEWS FLASH! - Docomo purchase of MCV a done deal

Docomo purchase of MCV a done deal

Coco Jo's cookie, chocolate exports on the rise

Local confectionary manufacturer Coco Jo's of Guam, has seen its export business grow steadily over the past year, according to Charles A. Selk, its general manager and husband of Denise R. Selk, owner of the company.

CORPORATE GIVING

The Guam Rotary Club hosted its Rotary Pacific Basin Group joint luncheon at the Marriott Guam Resort & Spa on May 9.

Deadline for BOS contract RFP narrowing

A range of potential contractors are lining up for the half-billion dollar base operating support services contract, for which Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific is the contracting activity.

Friends with benefits: skin product offers chance of beauty and income

Three businesswomen in Guam are endorsing a skin care product that is being sold through what the company calls "relationship marketing."

Guam Chamber of Commerce Member in the Spotlight - Landscape Management Systems Inc.

Robert P. Salas is the director of Landscape Management Systems Inc., and he has been in business for 19 years.

GUMA to host trade fair at DFS

The Guam Unique Merchandising and Arts Incubator Program will be hosting a trade fair at the DFS Galleria between May 30 and June 1.

Hilfiger to open in November

It was announced at a recent GPO tenants' meeting that Tommy Hilfiger will be opening a new outlet at the Guam Premier Outlets later this year.

New star set to shine in Guam

TOKYO - Japan's Starflyer Inc. has announced plans to operate 13 charter flights between its base in Kitakyushu, on Japan's most southerly main island of Kyushu and Guam in August.

Orkin expands to Guam

It has been confirmed that Rollins Inc., a North American consumer and commercial services company known primarily for its various pest control subsidiaries, will be launching an Orkin franchise on Guam.

Ortigas developers promote luxury and positive qi to potential Guam residents, investors

The ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui says the ideal place must have "access to the sun and cool air.

Permit test leads to lower passing rate

In October 2012, new material was added to the written test for the learner's permit for the Guam driver's license.

SPECIAL FEATURE - Health and wellness - Beating stress on the job

Is it possible to manage stress in natural and healthy ways? It is absolutely possible but it takes discipline.

Sustainable tourism: workforce development plan

Guam recently had its best tourism performance in a decade with more than 1.3 million visitors.

Warning sirens not set to sound on Guam yet

The Department of Public Works advised prospective bidders for the installation of the All Hazards Alert Warning System on May 12 that the bidding process is being postponed.

Watabe Wedding moving to Tumon Sands

Watabe Guam Inc. which does business as Watabe Wedding, has occupied the third floor at the Pacific Place shopping complex, above Capricciosa and Outback Steakhouse since 1998, but is now moving into the Tumon Sands Plaza.

Bags more choice - Givenchy to open doors at the Tumon Sands Plaza

The Ellen Group LLC, a subsidiary of Gemkell Corp., will operate the Givenchy boutique in the popular Tumon Sands Plaza.

Editorial

Looking up in May

The bright promise of the new year in January soon dimmed and continued to do so as the weeks and months of 2013 slipped by.

Subway $6 Footlong for October

Headline Story

Bags more choice - Givenchy to open doors at the Tumon Sands Plaza

The Ellen Group LLC, a subsidiary of Gemkell Corp., will operate the Givenchy boutique in the popular Tumon Sands Plaza.

Regional News

Japan officials pooh-pooh suggestion U.S. Marines would still be at Okinawa's Futenma Air Station in 15 years

TOKYO - The Japanese government has played down comments by a senior United States military official suggesting that the U.S. Marines might still be at Futenma Air Station in 15 years' time, an even further delay in the long-awaited reallocation of forces throughout the region.

Mainland Chinese annoy neighbors with history-based claim to Okinawa

Analysts in Japan have branded China's continuing efforts to assert sovereignty over Okinawa "ridiculous," while warning that - bogus or not - the claim may be the opening move by Beijing to seize the Senkaku chain and some of the more remote islands of the prefecture.

Mountain-Pacific launches new diabetes campaign

Mountain-Pacific Quality Health - Hawaii recently launched its "Be a Legacy of Good Health for Guam" diabetes control campaign, showcasing its campaign overview to the 32nd Guam Legislature on May 10.

New Pacific tuna product to command premium in Europe

MAJURO, Marshall Islands - The eight-member Parties to the Nauru Agreement fisheries group will be delivering its first certified sustainably caught skipjack to wholesalers and retailers in Europe later in May.

Palau tax foreign workers to pay pensions

KOROR, Palau - A new remittance tax will be imposed in Palau starting Aug. 1, with the proceeds to be paid into its civil service pension plan which only covers Palauans.

PATA China rep heralds growth in Chinese inbound tourism

The Chinese government has announced a series of initiatives aimed at increasing travel among its citizens, according to Kate Chang, the Pacific Asia Travel Association's China Director.

Repairs to Palau's crumbling Compact Road generate legal action

KOROR, Palau - A Palauan resident of the Philippines sued the Compact Road repair contractor for quarrying gravel from property she co-owns with her family without her consent.

Opinion

The bait and switch in Tinian

In 1975, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands signed a "Technical Agreement" with Washington, D.C., which described in great detail the future use of two-thirds of Tinian's land area.

Briefcase

Quantum acquires power-purchase agreement from Pacific Green Resources

HOUSTON, Texas - Quantum Utility Generation LLC acquired a 25-year power-purchase agreement from Pacific Green Resources LLC, according to an April 30 release from Quantum.

Tan to give UOG commencement address

MANGILAO, Guam - The University of Guam commencement speaker May 26 will be Henry Tan, chief executive officer of Luen Thai Holdings Ltd. in Hong Kong and vice chairman of Tan Holdings.

Grow Guam LLC receives USDA grant

MANGILAO, Guam - The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development has approved a Value Added Producer Grant of $300,000 for Grow Guam LLC.

Guam Regional Medical City contracts GFS for hospital food services

TAMUNING, Guam - The Guam Regional Medical City has contracted the GFS Group to provide patient meals and cafeteria services for the new hospital.

Citi ranks among world's top banks

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. - Bloomberg Markets has issued its annual survey of the world's strongest banks.

APAFS expands into South Pacific

HAGATNA, Guam - The Asia Pacific Association for Fiduciary Studies recently announced its newest member, the American Samoa Community College.

$330k federal grant for hiking and snail watching

MANGILAO, Guam -- The Department of Defense awarded in 2012 a $330,000 cooperative agreement to the University of Guam to search the island for snails and butterflies.

U.S. pays $7.3 Million in Compact grant assistance

KOLONIA, Pohnpei - The Federated States of Micronesia received in April Compact grant assistance payments from the United States government totaling $7.33 million.j

United Airlines prepares to reintroduce 787 flights

HOUSTON, Texas - United Airlines is preparing to reintroduce Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights to domestic and international routes.

Guam Memorial Hospital Authority seeks lobbying advice

HAGATNA, Guam - GMHA RFP 001-2013 issued May 8 seeks an individual or entity to advise and assist the administrator in negotiations with the U.S. Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Final step in Docomo-MCV merger approved by FCC

TAMUNING, Guam - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission May 3 in its WC Docket No. 12-265, approved the acquisition of licenses and authorizations from MCV Guam Holdings to Docomo Guam Holdings Inc., after the agency "determined that grant of these applications as conditioned serves the public interest, and accordingly the applications are granted with the conditions stated herein."

Feds give Guam airport top safety rating

TAMUNING, Guam - A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority announced May 3 the results of its annual Federal Aviation Administration airport certification inspection.

Leon Guerrero joins UOG banking school board

HAGATNA, Guam - Lou A. Leon Guerrero, president, chief executive officer and board chair of the Bank of Guam has been appointed to a three year term on the board of directors of the Pacific Bankers Management Institute, which oversees the Pacific Coast Banking School.