– farmers to be mobilised to supply high-quality fruits, vegetables for manufacturing sector

DEMERARA Distillers Limited (DDL) will be expanding its packaging plant to facilitate the introduction of a variety of new products, relocating another and opening a new 45,000 square foot warehouse, as it climbs to new heights.

On Thursday, Finance Minister Winston Jordan and a team from his ministry were briefed on DDL’s expansion plans as they toured the company’s Diamond facilities, while engaging in wide-ranging discussions on initiatives to help spur local manufacturing.

In a joint statement on the visit, Minister Jordan reiterated government’s commitment to enhanced collaboration with the private sector, to ensure an enabling environment that would facilitate the success not only of DDL’s development programme but of private sector manufacturing initiatives in general.

The finance minister pointed to the need for increased local manufacturing that utilises local produce and raw materials, so that small farmers and other suppliers who meet the required quality standards can be assured of guaranteed markets for their supplies.
Speaking directly to DDL, the finance minister urged the company to widen its range of fruit juices to include more locally grown fruits and even vegetables.

It was on this note that they agreed that one area of collaboration between the government and DDL should be the mobilisation of farmers by the Ministry of Agriculture, to grow and supply fruits and vegetables which would meet the required standards for processing, packaging and sale on the local and international markets.
DDL’s Executive Chairman Komal Samaroo said last week, that during discussions with Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, it was agreed that a programme of action would be developed to move the process forward.

Samaroo briefed Minister Jordan on the company’s current and planned projects which include the expansion of its packaging plant to facilitate the introduction of a variety of new products; the relocation of its Topco juice plant; the opening of its new 45,000 square foot warehouse in late October, that will serve as the new headquarters of Distribution Services Limited (DSL) and the introduction of a solar farm to meet the energy needs of the company.

Minister Jordan also had an on-the-spot look at the proposed new land-use programme for the area which was approved by Cabinet last week, following discussions between the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and DDL.

Also, during the working lunch at the company’s Heritage Centre, the teams discussed the current situation regarding the supply of molasses; the company’s ongoing efforts to increase exports of its premium branded rum on the international market; the intensification of its diversification programme; measures that would enhance the competitiveness of local products seeking export markets; and the training of required skills in science and technology to meet the future demands of the manufacturing sector.