Massy turns sod for US$75M business hub at Houston

…company sees Guyana as “long-term partner” – CEO

Massy Guyana officially turned the sod for its new US$75 million Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD) business hub, with Government and company officials describing the investment as a major vote of confidence in Guyana’s rapidly expanding economy and a key step towards strengthening the country’s logistics, distribution and automotive sectors. The development, which will house a modern distribution warehouse, a new Massy Motors dealership and service centre, is expected to become one of the company’s largest investments in the country. Delivering the feature address at the sod-turning ceremony on Thursday, Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar said the scale of the investment sends a message to investors both locally and internationally. “I want to congratulate you on this US$75 million investment. Let me just repeat that – a US$75 million investment. We see US$75 million, but what this does is send a straight, direct signal that the confidence in the Guyanese economy is strong. What it says to the Massy Group and the rest of our onlookers is that if the Massy Group, a company that is smart in its thinking and deliberation, can invest this money in the Guyanese economy, it means they see something that others should be looking for if they have not seen it as yet,” the minister said. Indar noted that Guyana is experiencing a period of unprecedented economic expansion and urged businesses to seize the opportunities being created. “It is not every day that you can say that you’re part of the world’s fastest-growing economy, and that is our six years and counting. We are part of a development that others before us did not have, and those in the future will not have. This is the time when you need hands to build, not hands to break. This country needs everybody to help build it.” He said the Government’s investments in energy, infrastructure, ports, manufacturing and industrial development are laying the foundation for sustained private sector growth. “The next stage of our development is not just continuous infrastructure build-out, but the industrialisation of the country, to manufacture things that we never did before, things we always imported.”

Indar pointed to the Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project, future deep-water port development, expanded manufacturing and agro-processing opportunities and plans to position Guyana as both a maritime and aviation hub. “The President has mandated me to ensure Guyana becomes a maritime hub and an aviation hub. We are not going to sit back and watch the development happen and be spectators.”

Long-term partner
Massy Group President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James McLetchie said the company views Guyana as a long-term partner rather than simply another market. “For Massy, Guyana is not just a market we are entering. We’ve been here. It is a country we are growing with. Many companies talk about opportunity. We talk about commitment. If you haven’t felt the common thread in this team, it is about commitment to this country, to our people and to our region.” He said the investment demonstrates the company’s confidence that Guyana’s growth will continue well beyond the country’s oil production.

“This investment reflects our belief that Guyana’s future extends far beyond oil. It reflects our confidence that the next chapter of Guyana’s story will be driven by infrastructure, logistics, food security, energy, technology and, most importantly, talent, entrepreneurship and leadership.” Mc Letchie also outlined Massy’s vision of making Guyana a regional logistics and food security hub. “We do want to start moving products south to north. Guyana has to be, with all the ports that will be built, the centre of the future of supply chains in this region.” Using the example of purchasing a Guyanese mango overseas at a premium price, the Massy executive argued that the country has tremendous untapped agro-processing potential. “What we would like to visualise is a world where we are producing all of the food that we need in this region in a healthy form. We are exporting globally at scale and therefore subsidising healthier foods in the region, with Guyana at the centre of a regional agricultural hub.” He revealed that the company’s board has already approved additional investment beyond the announced project. “We approved another US$25 million because we want to make the best automotive centre here. The best investments are not investments in buildings. They are investments in our people, our partnerships and the possibilities.”

Deepen the role
Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and Head of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), Peter Ramsaroop, challenged the company to deepen its role in Guyana’s manufacturing and agro-processing sectors. “The President said we’re not just here to sell or distribute. We’re here to make, build and deliver to the citizens of Guyana and to deliver to the region.” He noted that Massy has already partnered with Guyanese producers by promoting locally manufactured products in its supermarkets and urged the company to help local businesses expand into regional markets. “I’m challenging Massy to start looking at that next step. This distribution channel is going to be important.” Earlier, Chairman and Country Manager of Massy Guyana, Troy Beharry, described the sod-turning as another milestone in the company’s decades-long relationship with Guyana. “Today, as we turn the sod, we are not simply beginning construction of a facility. We are deepening a relationship that began in 1968. We are reaffirming Massy’s belief in Guyana, and we are committing ourselves once again to being a trusted partner in the country’s continued development.” The Houston development will house Massy’s newest distribution warehouse together with a modern automotive dealership and service centre, significantly expanding the company’s logistics and customer service capacity in Guyana.