Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaica-based conglomerate the GraceKennedy Group has been invited by the Guyanese Government to set up a manufacturing presence in the South American nation.

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh extended the invitation in response to a representative from the regional food giant, who inquired about the potential investment in Guyana. An enthusiastic Singh remarked, “We would be delighted for you to come to Guyana to set up a manufacturing presence in Guyana.”

He was speaking during the fourth Jamaican export and investment mission to Guyana, in which the minister acknowledged GraceKennedy’s strong global brand and Guyana’s growing agro-processing potential. According to him, “GraceKennedy has a huge global footprint, you go into mainstream supermarkets in the United States and you see Grace Kennedy products on the shelves.”

Continuing, he highlighted Guyana’s agricultural potential, adding that the country is well-positioned to supply produce such as coconuts to Grace.

For Singh, “We have a huge coconut industry. The truth is, GraceKennedy coconut water should have in the fine print – Product of Guyana. Your coconuts shouldn’t come from Thailand, your coconuts should come from Guyana.” 

Guyana’s agro-processing potential 

He mentioned, “Guyana’s agro-processing potential with an abundance of fruits and vegetables now [being] cultivated here, contending that these products can easily be transformed into value-added goods under the GraceKennedy brand.”

“Agro-processing is extremely important, all those crops we grow could easily be packaged and branded as Grace products,” Dr. Singh said whilst making it abundantly clear that the government is open to partner with GraceKennedy.

However, should GraceKennedy opt to invest directly or to license a local manufacturer, the Guyanese Cabinet minister promised that “Guyana is ready to support. It can be a Guyanese manufacturer, and you work out with them your standards, branding and labelling, that is also a possibility.”