BANKS DIH opens $13.7 billion bottling plant

Banks DIH Limited on Sunday evening commissioned its $13.7B bottling plant at Thirst Park, Georgetown, which will be producing 400,000 cases of beer per month.

The Guyanese company, according to Chairman Clifford Reis, will now be better equipped to meet its local and international demand for its products while providing more employment.

He noted that the 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 or products per month.

Looking ahead, Reis said the company will begin installing a new 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.

President Dr Irfaan Ali noted that companies like Banks DIH bring the strong Guyanese vision to life with the expansion of its brand.

As the economy expands, he noted, rising incomes and consumer spending will fuel even greater demand for food, beverages, and other goods, underscoring that the country now stands at a decisive crossroads.

“The direction is clear, the opportunity is real, the time is now. I believe that companies like Banks DIH and others can and must play a decisive role in shaping Guyana’s manufacturing future,” the President said.

He urged the company to look at expanding further to take over the bottling of other local products which are currently outsourced, and to incorporate more of the local rice production into their products.

High energy costs have historically constrained industrial expansion and reduced competitiveness, discouraging investments in manufacturing, but that is about to change with the landmark Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project being developed in Wales, Region Three. This transformative project is on track to be completed in the current year.

With lower energy costs, President Ali reasoned that local manufacturing would become more viable, allowing both new industries and existing companies to expand.

Banks DIH was established in 1969 and according to its chairman, now has more than 13,000 shareholders.

“This combination of institutional memory and balance sheet strength gives legacy companies a unique advantage. They’re better positioned to take long term investment, absorb short term risks and finance large-scale projects that newer [companies] may find difficult to undertake,” the President outlined.

He noted that in the upcoming 2026 National Budget, targeted support will be announced for the manufacturing and industrial sectors to prepare them for the new era of business development.

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.