PM Meets New Brewery Owners

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Business News

Monday, 08 March 2010 06:55

By caribarena news

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, together with Minister of Finance Harold Lovell, met with the representative of the company that has acquired majority shareholding in the Antigua Brewery.

Mario Pujols Ortiz, director of government affairs for the company, Empresas Leon Jimenes SA of the Dominican Republic, told the prime minister that the company was making its first venture outside of its own market and had chosen Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Pujols Ortiz said the keys had been handed over in a brief ceremony at the brewery and that the new owners had met with all management and staff. He added that as the first significant investor from the Dominican Republic in Antigua & Barbuda, Empresas Leon Jimenes was a pioneer that could open the door for greater investment from the DR.

Spencer recalled Pujols Ortiz’s last visit in October when the groundwork was laid for the acquisition, and he was particularly interested in any plans the company may have to expand and strengthen its portfolio, especially in the development of local brands. The prime minister was also informed that the Wadadli beer brand had performed well at a recent exhibition in the DR.

Minister Lovell said his ministry would keep the door for dialogue open and that there would be a consultative relationship between the company and the government. Lovell also informed Pujols Ortiz that his ministry had been authorized by the Cabinet to pursue the conclusion of a series of treaties with the Dominican Republic designed to foster greater investment and trade between both countries. Lovell stated that the development of closer economic ties between member countries of Cariforum was a trade objective of his ministry.

The delegation from the DR, which includes the owner of the company, left Antigua for the DR today. Empresas Leon Jimenes also has interests in breweries in Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

 

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