A Japan-based manufacturing firm with operations in the U.S. mainland and Asia is actively exploring investment opportunities in the Northern Mariana Islands, according to Lt. Gov. Dennis James Mendiola.
“They’re on the ground, working their way through the process,” Mendiola said during a press conference Monday. “They’re trying to get all their permitting situation situated so they can announce their groundbreaking.”
The potential investment comes amid rising global tariffs and shifting supply chains, which have sparked renewed interest in the CNMI as a strategic location, the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers said.
Gov. David M. Apatang recently reactivated the council—originally formed in 2020—to develop policy initiatives, streamline government services, and stimulate economic activity in the islands.
The council, composed of public and private sector members, has formed committees to address key priorities: tourism, infrastructure and sports; labor and workforce development; domestic policy and government services; and economic diversification.
Mendiola and Saipan Chamber of Commerce President Joe C. Guerrero serve as co-chairs.
“This year’s council is not going to reinvent the wheel,” Mendiola said. “All we want to do is use the resources that are already in place, narrow down the ideas, and work from there.”
He emphasized the importance of ensuring that investor interest leads to visible results.
“We want to make sure that when investors express interest in putting up a business here, that investment actually materializes on the islands,” Mendiola said. “So when a new investment is presented to the people, it is something they can see firsthand.”
Guerrero echoed the need for action over planning.
“We can’t just be talking about these plans and ideas,” he said. “We need to start prioritizing and pick the low-hanging fruit.”
