President Donald Ramotar yesterday addressed the opening of the Chinese owned Zhanghao Shipyard in Coverden, East Bank Demerara.
GINA said that he also presided over the launch and naming ceremony for a logging vessel christened the ‘Yhan Heng freighter’.
“I want to extend special greetings to the Chinese investors who have come here and to let them know that they are welcome in Guyana,” President Ramotar said.
logging vessel, Yhan Heng. (GINA photo)
The President said that China has tremendous capabilities, evident by the tremendous progress that the country has made in just over three decades.
“To see how fast that country has grown in just over three decades, speaks volumes for Chinese investors and their readiness to take risks. It also speaks volumes of their skills, of their traditions and customs, and their dedication to work and labour, and that is something we hope that we can emulate in our country,” the President said.
He said that Guyana has been seeing the many examples of the effectiveness and efficiency of the Chinese investors and work with regards to the country’s infrastructure development.
“So on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana I want to express our sincere thanks to the Chinese Government, people and investors, and to say that I look forward to, and I am ready to say openly that we are going to put all the facilities available that we give to investors, to try to attract more investments from China, in our country, to help us build Guyana and help us reach the full potential that this country can achieve,” he said, according to GINA.
GINA said that construction on the Zhanghao shipyard started in 2012, but it wasn’t until late 2013 that construction began on the vessel that was meant to facilitate the transport of logs from Kwakwani where the company has a logging concession. The name of the logging concession is unclear and it appears that the export of logs will be a key part of its operations.
GINA said that the vessel, whose design and engine are Chinese, and its steel plates were pre-formed in China has the capacity to carry 200,000 tonnes of logs and six crew members and will take about four days from Kwakwani to the shipyard in Coverden, laden with the logs.
Ramotar said that the Zhanghao investment has the potential to revitalise the local ship and port making that would have declined, over time in Guyana.
“For me this is a really joyous occasion, because what we are seeing here is the expansion of our production capacity… this investment here will certainly help to stimulate a lot of other activities and allow the use of our rivers to cheapen transportation cost,” he said, according to GINA.
