Prime Minister Andrew Holness (second right) with Hans Wijers (second left), chairman of the supervisory board of Heineken N V; Ricardo Nuncio (left), managing director, Red Stripe; and Eugene Ubalijoro, managing director of Heineken’s Caribbean and Americas Export region at the Office of the Prime Minister on Tuesday, October 17. The group discussed Red Stripe’s progress since being acquired by Heineken and the company’s business strategies.

Heineken N V Chairman Hans Wijers has expressed optimism for Jamaica’s growth plans and the country’s economic future.

Wijers’ comments followed a meeting with Prime Minister Andrew Holness on October 17 at Jamaica House, a company news release said.

“Yes, what you are trying to do is very ambitious. That level of growth, five per cent, is not going to be easy, but it’s possible. Your prime minister knows what he’s doing,” Wijers is reported as saying after the meeting.

The Heineken chairman was in Jamaica for a market visit, days after the second anniversary of the company’s acquisition of Red Stripe. He expressed confidence in the beer company’s management team and said Heineken would continue to prioritise the Red Stripe brand among the top 10 global brands in its portfolio.

“Red Stripe is very important to this region… We have every confidence that given the right environment, you will achieve your growth ambitions,” he said.

Wijers is the latest in a series of high-ranking officials from the multinational company to have visited Jamaica this year.

“This is yet another indication of the importance of this market within Heineken. Jamaica and Red Stripe are part of a broader strategy for growth in the CAE (Caribbean and Americas Export) region,” the release quotes Red Stripe Managing Director Ricardo Nuncio.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business-observer/heineken_115030