The Guam Economic Development Authority (GEDA) hosted a Japan Inbound Trade Mission connecting seven Japan-based businesses with seven Guam-based businesses to explore export options which could put Guam products on shelves in Japan stores.

GEDA said the opportunity to establish potential buyer-supplier relationships is the result of a partnership with the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA), a non-profit state trade regional trade group that promotes export of U.S. food and agricultural products throughout the world from the western region of the country, including Guam.

“The trade mission builds on GEDA’s initiatives in the past few years to target the Japan export market and support the growth and expansion of our local small businesses,” Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said calling the Japan Inbound Trade Mission an opportunity for Guam businesses to "prove that we can compete on an international stage."

The seven Guam businesses that participated in the trade mission included Denanche' Guam, Asiga, Everything Guam, Kingfisher's Noni, Local Jerk Guam, The Coconut Tree Company, and The Green Turtle Coffee.

"Our local entrepreneurs are Guam’s ambassadors to the rest of the world, sharing our culture through their craft and products,” said Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio. “The trade mission is yet another step closer to seeing our products on the shelves of retail stores and used by food establishments and families in Japan.”

The delegation from Japan included importers, distributors, food manufacturers, restaurants and a culinary institute along with two government representatives of the Shizuoka Prefectural Assembly.

The delegation was also able to participate in the Pacific Hotel and Restaurant Association Expo (PHARE) giving exposing them to additional Guam businesses and a chef demonstration incorporating Guam food products into the menu.

“I want to thank the Guam Hotel & Restaurant Association for providing a space for our companies to share their locally made products not just locally, but to the region,” GEDA Administrator Christina D. Garcia said. “Participating in PHARE is part of our continued efforts to support our entrepreneurs and encourage everyone to Buy Guam.”

Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association (GHRA) President Mary Rhodes during PHARE said it was important to ensure that Guam's small businesses were included in the show telling Guam News they worked with GEDA to showcase Guam Product seal companies.

"Guam's been lucky enough and GEDA's been lucky enough to work with WUSATA ... since 2024, in all of our food events the last two years to bring buyers from Japan, as well as other markets, so that we can introduce concepts, not just for local representation here on the island, but also possibly exporting it out. So, we can further promote Guam in different ways and then create partnerships with culinary schools, as well as even doing food shows out in markets like Japan, which is our key source market still," Rhodes said.

According to Rhodes the partnership is mutually beneficial, explaining that the next stop is Shizuoka.

"Some of these Guam Products Seal vendors will be going out and doing a food show in Shizuoka, Japan. That'll be in September. And so there's a lot of ... collaboration taking place for what we can do differently in the next year, with some of these vendors, and then not limited to just expos and food shows, is how about some exchange with chefs or with events, and where they can come to Guam, and actually be celebrity guest judges, or compete here locally in events like Tumon Sunday Night Market, or if we were to do another fair, or events like this that have different culinary competitions," Rhodes said.