– bottling, biscuits and rum plants to be opened
Some 250 jobs will be available on the local market when new bottling and biscuit plants open here by April of next year.
The $1.75B deal between the Safeco Group of Companies and Venezuelan company Mundial Maquinas C.A. was signed yesterday at the Roraima Residence Inn. The signing of the deal represents the beginning of the first phase of a two-phase investment for Caricom Bottling Company Inc.
The first phase is the construction of a beverage plant and a biscuit plant. It was disclosed that deals to bottle four brands of juice, soft drink, water and beer have already been signed.
However these brands were not disclosed. Biscuits, crackers and cookies will also be produced at a Linden plant, Joshua Safeek of Safeco Group of Companies said.
The second phase is a rum line. According to Safeek, the company has agreed to be the agent for the manufacturing of Vybz Kartel rum, named for Jamaican DJ/rapper. The rum is to be manufactured and bottled at a bottling plant not too far away from the new Skeldon sugar factory, where raw material will be sourced.
Safeek said the project includes a three-year expansion plan, where the company will expand to Trinidad and Jamaica.
Venezuelan Ambassador Dario Morandy said that the Venezuelan government celebrates any investments that will lead to better relationships between the two countries. He said that the support of the Venezuelan embassy here can be counted on to ensure success.
Geoff DaSilva, Head of Go Invest said that the new deal is a good example for both local and foreign investors.
He said Guyana needs diversity in investment which is what the two companies have demonstrated with their investments.