Guyana poised for industrial, manufacturing revolution – Pres Ali

– as Banks DIH commissions new $13.7B Malt Bottling Plant

With the highly-anticipated Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project set to come on stream later this year, delivering cheaper and more reliable electricity in the country, President Dr Irfaan Ali says that Guyana is being positioned to undergo an industrial and manufacturing transformation.

“Guyana is poised for industrial and manufacturing revolution. Our economy is growing at an unprecedented pace. Guyana is committed to modernising the economy, improving infrastructure and increasing disposable incomes across the population. As people earn more, they will spend more, and they will spend more within our economy; demand for goods, including manufactured products, will rise substantially. The question before us is simple but profound. Who will meet that demand? Will we rely increasingly on imports, or will we see expanded local production?”
“With the Gas to Energy project coming on stream, electricity costs will be slashed by half. This is not a marginal change. It is a game changer in industrial development. Low energy costs will reshape the economies of manufacture, of manufacturers and manufacturing in Guyana. They will make local production more viable. They will open space for new industries and expansion of existing ones,” the Head of State declared as he commissioned the Banks DIH new $13.7B Malt Bottling Plant at Banks DIH’s Thirst Park, Greater Georgetown, Headquarters on Sunday.

Calls for Guyanese companies to prepare, position themselves for new era
Against this backdrop, President Ali called on Guyanese companies prepare and position themselves for the new era, assuring that the Government will support them in this transition. In fact, the Guyanese Leader hinted that Budget 2026 will deliver direct measures for businesses to be better positioned for this new era of industrial and business development with targeted support for the manufacturing and industrial sectors.
Describing Banks DIH as an industrial giant in the Guyanese economy, the president lauded the company for expanding its operations beyond beverage manufacturing.
“The company did not confine itself to one line of business. It expanded intelligently into restaurants, ice cream parlours, and the financial sector, [even] snacks. It spread risk. It captured new markets. It responded to changing consumer tastes… It is against this strong foundation that today’s opening of the malt plant must be understood. This investment is significant,” he asserted.

Confidence
According to Ali, this investment sends a message of confidence in not just Guyana’s future but the Government’s plans and policies for economic development.
“This plant has something important: that local manufacturing still matters, that value can still be added here at home, that Guyanese companies can compete, not by retreating, but by investing and upgrading… It’s important also for us to recognise that Banks DIH would not have made this investment if they did not have the confidence in the governance mechanism, the confidence in the government and the confidence in the policy making framework that we are applying today,” he asserted.
President Ali went on to reflect on the important role Banks DIH has had in the country’s economic history.
He said, “This company has definitely shaped lot of our history… Today as we commission this malt plant, we’re celebrating an institution that has worked with Guyana through decades of change and has helped to shape the very fabric of Guyana’s industrial and manufacturing development. Bank DIH is not just a company. It is a chapter in Guyana’s economic history.”
“From its early beginnings as a soft drinks and brewery operation, it evolved steadily and deliberately into a diversified industrial powerhouse. It did not remain static. It did not cling to yesterday’s family-owned business model. It grew, expanded and transformed, just as Guyana itself has done… Banks DIH is one of those real companies… It is one of our traditional business giants. It remains a symbol of local enterprise at its best through its beer and its rum; through its craftsmanship and consistency, it has allowed Guyana to enjoy international review. When a bottle bearing a Bank’s label is opened abroad, Guyana is present, our name, our quality, our standards, travel with it. This is what industrial success looks like.”

Opening of new bottling plant
Meanwhile, Chairman of Banks DIH, Clifford Reis, delivered the opening remarks and provided an overview of the project. The malt bottling plant is the fourth phase in the company’s expansion plans.
With the new production plant, Banks DIH now has the capacity to brew 800,000 cases, bottle 800,000 cases and store 900,000 cases per month.
Looking ahead, Reis said the company will begin installing a new beer canning line with work scheduled to commence in a few days.
He said the new line will produce 17,000 cans per hour and is expected to be commissioned in the first half of the financial year. When operational, it will have the capacity to produce 950,000 cans per month, including products such as Banks Beer, GT Beer, Guinness and Coca-Cola.
Reis commended the president for his guidance and encouragement in the initial phases of the project, which he affirmed will create thousands of jobs for Guyanese.
Also attending the ceremony were the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues; Chief Investment Officer and Head of the Guyana Office for Investment, Dr Peter Ramsaroop and other officials.