Continued confidence in the economy
─ GENEQUIP opens $417M training facility
DPI, Guyana, Monday, September 23, 2019
Yet another local company has demonstrated its confidence in Guyana’s progressive economy, making a whopping $417M investment, with the establishment of a modern training and maintenance facility.
The first of several businesses to open in the area, General Equipment Guyana (GENEQUIP) today opened its S15 Plantation Houston, on the East Bank of Demerara, facility providing services in the agriculture, mining and most recently the oil and gas industries.
Today, Finance Minister, Hon. Winston Jordan, along with Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Raphael Trotman and Minister of the Business, Hon. Haimraj Rajkumar today toured the new facility.
“Again, it shows the expression of confidence in the economy that they could have built a third property like this and they are in two of the top sectors in Guyana, mining and agriculture.”
The Finance Minister said the diversification of the economy, regardless of the coming of oil, has come into play with the investment by GENEQUIP.
Minister of Business, Hon. Haimraj Rajkumar said the company took a bold step in the investment of the modern facility.
“I believe that our people will benefit tremendously and of course mostly you will find that it is agriculture and mining, two of our sectors that have been contributing tremendously to our economy. I believe that this investment, [Mr. Van Dijk] has seen that our economy is moving in an upward trajectory.”
The investment saw the transfer of the General Equipment to the $417M facility. It provides a space for operational training in the various sectors.
Operations Manager, Schelte Van Dijk said the training opportunities offered at the facility are second to none.
“In the equipment business, equipment cannot maintain themselves, it has to be maintained by people. So, we are constantly training young people to be able to maintain heavy equipment for the mining, agriculture and the oil companies, which include material handling and power generation.”
“We also have a cooperation with the School of Agriculture, but the most notable one is GTI, there we also take on as many students as we can with direct employment, vacation work and internships.”
Minister Jordan, in closing, again highlighted the confidence of local and international investors and encouraged the company to employ as many persons as possible from the local community.