Mark Anderson, interim zone administrator, hopes to promote the zone as a resource for small businesses in the state and recruit more manufacturers to participate in the program. The FTZ structure allows it to classify zones as either general or subzones. The general zones are open to all businesses, while subzones are typically designated for a company's manufacturing operations. In Hawaii, general zones include Pier 2 of the Honolulu harbor, Honolulu Airport and the Campbell Industrial Park. To encourage small businesses like Aala Produce to take advantage of the facilities and tax shelter in the general zones, the zone is setting itself up as a business incubator, providing office space and warehousing facilities to start-ups.
Companies can consolidate, repackage and check on products while they're in warehouse.
And as long as the items remain within the FTZ, there is no need to pay a duty. We reach down to small business and the facilities are available to all. That's a big difference from some zones on the mainland that cater only to big clients. To improve efficiency, the zone is updating its technology. A new inventory software will permit clients to indicate products they want removed and delivered from the warehouse.