31 May 2010

New Zealand businesses chasing contracts in Guam's buildup for the US marines

7:07 pm on 31 May 2010

The chairman of the New Zealand Pacific Business Council says the impending US military build-up on Guam represents a kind of "gold-rush" opportunity for regional businesses.

Gilbert Ullrich is this week leading a New Zealand trade mission in Guam, looking to secure work contracts associated with the transferral of over 8,000 US marines to the island by 2014.

He says while the big contracts have mostly been allocated, there is a sizeable chunk of sub-contracts on offer.

"Mainly construction and infrastructure. There's a huge amount of things like utilities that need to be done here: water, power... None of the things that are in existence here now are going to be able to handle the build-up and the huge amount of people that'll come and be living or stationed in Guam."

Gilbert Ullrich says their mission to Guam also includes representatives from five Fiji businesses.