U.S. investors want to make energy drink with coconut water from Guyana : - Investors meet President Ramotar
Written by, Wednesday, 07 August 2013 23:16, Source
THE introduction of an energy drink with coconut water from Guyana as one of the key ingredients is being conceptualised by American investors who met President Donald Ramotar yesterday for talks.
President Donald Ramotar and Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy in talks with American investors in coconut George Papanastasatos and Marim Kinkladze and Chief Executive Officer of Global Connections Consultants Inc., Allison Butters-Grant
President Donald Ramotar greets George Papanastasatos, an investor from the United States who was accompanied by President and Chief Executive Officer of Global Connections Consultants Inc., Allison Butters-Grant
The product, when manufactured, will be sold to the high-end consumers in the United States using a marketing strategy that will promote the country and the business of local, small coconut producers.
George Papanastasatos and Marim Kinkladze, the two investors met President Ramotar in the company of Allison Butters-Grant President and Chief Executive Officer of Global Connections Consultants Inc.
Butters-Grant, who is tasked with connecting investment seekers with Guyana, accompanied the duo to engagements with stakeholders, including the government, the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) and farmers in The Pomeroon.
“We definitely found the resources (in Guyana). It’s only a matter of building the right resources for us to get the right quantities and the right quality of coconut water,” Papanastasatos said in an invited comment.
The investors are looking for the organically produced coconut water, which Papanastasatos said is the best selling in North America, even as the practice of applying chemicals in farming is well known.
“It seems feasible and it seems that we are in the right path to make it happen relatively quickly. Luckily enough we have the right people to introduce us to the locals, Papanastasatos explained.
Coconut was the key focus of a seminar earlier this year that was aimed at devising a 2013 plan to revitalise and develop the industry and aggressively advance the country’s agricultural diversification programme.
The seminar ended with the formulation of an oversight committee comprising coconut stakeholders who will meet monthly and prepare a national report every six months.
The acreage under cultivation for coconut is the third largest after rice and sugar. Guyana produces about 100 million coconuts per year.
