The new year inevitably brings with it an atmosphere of optimism and hopes for a better future.
This is a brief respite from the realities of doing business during continuing tough times for the islands of Micronesia. No sooner have we overcome one challenge than another besets us.
Take the federal government’s plans for deep sea mining for instance — currently on the radar of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, and a huge concern.
But sometimes we see visible concrete efforts of change for the better.
The government of the Northern Mariana Islands — through preparation and legislation — moved ahead in the last days of 2025 with a ribbon cutting for the One Stop Business Permitting Center on Capitol Hill.
Readers who do business in the NMI and Guam have told the paper that getting a business licensed in the commonwealth has always been quicker and easier, but now it apparently will be quicker and
easier still.
“In its initial phase, the Center will include representatives from the CNMI Department of Commerce (Registrar and Foreign Corporation Liaison), Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services (fire code and safety inspections), Department of Public Works (building-code compliance), Department of Finance (business licensure), Zoning Board (land-use and development approvals), and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation Division of Environmental Health (sanitation and health permits),” the Office of Gov. David Atapang said.
That’s a pleasing commitment by the government for the business community to hear.
We can only wonder what further phases will bring.
Meanwhile, in Guam it is helpful that business licenses can be renewed online through the Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation’s website.
And GovGuam does have a Business License and Permitting Center at its Department of Public Works.
But challenges in the permitting process still persist, such as inconsistencies of the understanding of guidelines and the slowness of some agencies to approve their part of the process.
It’s still unheard of for a business to predict an opening date in Guam with any certainty.
But it’s a new year with new hope, and we once again renew our call for lasting improvements. mbj
This is a brief respite from the realities of doing business during continuing tough times for the islands of Micronesia. No sooner have we overcome one challenge than another besets us.
Take the federal government’s plans for deep sea mining for instance — currently on the radar of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, and a huge concern.
But sometimes we see visible concrete efforts of change for the better.
The government of the Northern Mariana Islands — through preparation and legislation — moved ahead in the last days of 2025 with a ribbon cutting for the One Stop Business Permitting Center on Capitol Hill.
Readers who do business in the NMI and Guam have told the paper that getting a business licensed in the commonwealth has always been quicker and easier, but now it apparently will be quicker and
easier still.
“In its initial phase, the Center will include representatives from the CNMI Department of Commerce (Registrar and Foreign Corporation Liaison), Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services (fire code and safety inspections), Department of Public Works (building-code compliance), Department of Finance (business licensure), Zoning Board (land-use and development approvals), and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation Division of Environmental Health (sanitation and health permits),” the Office of Gov. David Atapang said.
That’s a pleasing commitment by the government for the business community to hear.
We can only wonder what further phases will bring.
Meanwhile, in Guam it is helpful that business licenses can be renewed online through the Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation’s website.
And GovGuam does have a Business License and Permitting Center at its Department of Public Works.
But challenges in the permitting process still persist, such as inconsistencies of the understanding of guidelines and the slowness of some agencies to approve their part of the process.
It’s still unheard of for a business to predict an opening date in Guam with any certainty.
But it’s a new year with new hope, and we once again renew our call for lasting improvements. mbj
