HUNDREDS OF prospective suppliers of goods and services for the upcoming Jamalco expansion met at the St. Gabriel's church hall in May Pen last week to hear how they can participate in the $1.2 billion expansion project.
The initiative was co-ordinated by FLUOR, the international construction and engineering firm that has been contracted to manage the project.
LOCAL SERVICES
According to the site manager for FLUOR, International in Jamaica, Berry Moodie, the expo underscored the company's commitment to utilising local services on the project.
He added that he was pleased with the turn out of hundreds of business persons from across Jamaica to the expo.
Eleven categories of services and supplies have been identified that will be required for the project, including food and catering, construction and equipment rental, haulage, engineering, janitorial, housing, waste disposal, banking and transportation.
Attendees to the expo expressed enthusiasm for this major business opportunity, which has been opened to Jamaicans through the staging of the expo.
Public Relations and Communications Manager for Jamalco, Blossom Laidlaw, updated the attendees on the status of the expansion which she said has already begun.
The first phase she said to increase the refinery capacity by 150,000 tonnes by year end 2006 is in progress.
Further work on this expansion project at Jamalco is expected to commence by the second quarter of 2006 and to be completed by 2008.
