ANSA McAL Group Chief Operating Officer, Gerry Brooks, presents a token to Jamaican Finance Minister, Audley Shaw, following the official product launch, heralding a new partnership with Quality Dealers Group in Jamaica.

AS it continues to implement and push forward with growth and expansion strategies for 2010, the ANSA McAL Group in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago has moved to expand its presence in Jamaican markets with products from its Manufacturing Sector now being distributed by partnering with the renowned company Quality Dealers Limited in Jamaica.

A release from the Group’s Port of Spain Head Office stated that ANSA McAL products, including building solution products, paints, matches and bleach have been available on the Jamaican market for almost eight years. The building solutions products were done through direct purchase arrangements by public and private sector contractors in Jamaica.  The current situation, however, has resulted from a more focused strategy on building a sustainable stake in Jamaica by deepening business relationships and establishing distributorship arrangements as is presently being done with the consumer goods such as matches and bleach.

Two of its subsidiaries – Alstons Building Enterprises Limited (ABEL) and Sissons Paints Limited – will now reach the Jamaican markets through an exclusive partnership with Quality Dealers Limited which will be the sole agents for ABEL Windows and Sissons Paints in the North Caribbean nation.

According to ANSA McAL’s Manufacturing Sector’s Export Marketing Manager, Steve Gill, the thrust towards a deeper, more sustainable presence in Jamaica began in 2007 following the ANSA McAL Leadership Series.

“The leadership series challenged executives to seek out and develop new strategies in developing markets, which included a consolidated effort in export development for the manufacturing Sector of the Group. The challenge was fully supported and taken forward by the Group Chief Operating Officer, Gerry Brooks and the Manufacturing Sector Head, Kelvin Mahabir.”

“As the lead for developing our markets in Jamaica, and in collaboration with Oliver Holmes, an Investment Consultant and Managing Director of Capital Options Limited, I met with the QDL President and CEO, Anthony Walker.  In our discussions and negotiations it became clear that his vision was congruent with the Group’s vision – to partner, build and develop.  Of course the Group must gain from these markets, but as a responsible conglomerate with almost 130 years of history, we understand that we must also protect and nurture the markets we profit from.”