New US$1M ANSA McAl mini-mart welcomed by Gov’t

At the opening of a new US$1M ANSA McAl Trading Limited mini-mart, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond, has called for local products to also be prominent on the shelves of the business entity.

Walrond delivered remarks at the opening of the Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara facility on Friday. The minister disclosed that the Government has been working with small businesses across the country to improve the quality of products they produce.

“The Ministry of Agriculture, through the Guyana Marketing Corporation has been strengthening the production and marketing capacity of our producers, and stores like these can function as conduits for locally produced items to reach our consumers.

But for that to happen, stores must commit to not only stocking, but to prominently placing our local Guyanese items,” Walrond explained. The minister pointed out that the Trinidadian company is one of largest corporations in the world, with several diversified companies in the Caribbean, Europe and North America. Further, the company has been in Guyana for three decades, and provides consumers with a number of products ranging from beverage to pharmaceuticals.

Minister Walrond stressed that government is happy with the launch of the new layer of investment on the East Coast, noting that the administration will continue to put systems in place to ensure a business-friendly environment for investments.

“We want to send a message that we consider you our development partner, and when we consider your investment, small or large, we want to make sure that we create the enabling environment for your investment to thrive,” Walrond said.

Meanwhile, ANSA McAL’s Managing Director, Troy Cadogan said the company is working to expand mini-marts countrywide. He stressed that the company is aware of the rapid expansion ongoing in Guyana, and wants to capitalise on the opportunities.

“We are cognisant of the development thrust across all the various sectors of Guyana. In this regard, we are ensuring that our footprint is recorded in Guyana’s sand and in the process providing employment for Guyanese,” he revealed.

Cadogan pointed out that people can trust the establishment to provide authentic products that are of international standard. He added that only recently, several government ministers oversaw the commissioning of the $300M Imran Ally Shopping Complex, a hardware and variety store at Enmore Estate Road, East Coast Demerara.