By Admin. Updated 3:07 p.m., Thursday, December 12, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
The East Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC), which describes itself as the OECS’ biggest exporter of Flour, Rice and Animal Feeds, said today it
celebrated the arrival of its largest grain vessel in 22 years at the Campden Park port.
In a December 12 press release, the ECGC said: “The
impressive 600 ft long vessel, carrying a substantial cargo of wheat, corn, and soya, is currently docked at the ECGC port, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to regional food security.”
“Better economics of large ships strengthen OECS food security. This groundbreaking ship size, at 600 feet in length, was facilitated with vessel owners United Bulk Carriers (UBC), and is monumental for the OECS, underscoring ECGC’s ongoing transformation. By securing larger shipments and sharing grain vessels with other producers in
the region, ECGC is further strengthening supply reliability, and price stability for its flour and
feed customers in the OECS region,” the company said.
The rest of the release:
“This is a proud moment for UBC,” said Amr Mostafa, President of United Bulk Carriers (UBC,)
who is in St. Vincent & the Grenadines where he visited the ECGC Port. “Facilitating the
efficient transport of essential grains plays a crucial role in strengthening regional food
security. We are committed to working with partners like ECGC to optimize shipping
efficiencies and contribute to stable and affordable food supplies.”
ECGC CEO, J. Robert Cato, echoed this sentiment, stating, “We are proactive in ensuring food security in the OECS. By leveraging larger vessels, we optimize our supply chain and ultimately contribute to consistent availability and affordable food prices for our customers.”
ECGC sources premium wheat, soya and corn from the USA, which is shipped to the company’s port facility in Campden Park. The vessel docked at the ECGC port has a capacity of 38,000 metric tons of grain.
ECGC Regional Investment in Storage Coming.
Further strengthening its commitment to regional food security, ECGC also announced it is
considering significant storage investments in St. Kitts & Nevis, Antigua Barbuda, St. Lucia and
Dominica. These investments include expanding warehouse capacity for efficient storage
and distribution, ensuring a consistent and reliable “rolling supply” of essential food products
across these islands for Consumers, Bakers, Farmers, Supermarkets, Hotels and Restaurants.
“To guarantee the consistent supply of flour, feeds, and rice in the OECS, we are focused on two key areas: supply chain reliability and storage capacity,” explained Cato “Our planned
investments in St. Kitts & Nevis Antigua, Barbuda St. Lucia and Dominica demonstrate our
dedication to serving the entire OECS region,” added Cato. “By enhancing our infrastructure
and logistics, we are ensuring that communities across these islands have access to a steady
and affordable supply of essential food items.”
This latest shipment along with the planned investments in the OECS islands underscores
ECGC’s dedication to maintaining a steady supply of high-quality grains, allowing the
company to uphold price stability for its flour and animal feed products.
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About ECGC: Founded in 1977, ECGC is a Caribbean grown company headquartered in St. Vincent & the Grenadines. ECGC operates
flour mills, feed mills, rice distribution and beverage manufacturing Plants. ECGC exports Grains & Beverage brands to the OECS, the wider
Caribbean and the World.
About the OECS: The OECS is an (11) eleven-member grouping of islands spread across the Eastern Caribbean. Together, they form a near-
continuous archipelago across the eastern reaches of the Caribbean Sea. They comprise the Leeward Islands: Antigua and Barbuda, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands; and the Windward Islands: Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the
Grenadines and Grenada, Martinique, and Guadeloupe.
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