President Ramkalawan satisfied with Diageo Seychelles Breweries performance |27 November 2021
President Wavel Ramkalawan yesterday paid a visit to the Diageo Seychelles Breweries facility, a leading beverage company in Seychelles, with a portfolio spanning carbonated soft drinks, beers and spirits.
The president was upon arrival greeted by managing director Conor Neiland, and other officials comprising commercial director Bertrand Belle, human resource director Shirley Louise, finance director Devesh Dutt, finance director for Africa and emerging markets for Diaego Ignacio Blasquez and corporate relations manager Mary-Anne Ernesta, who guided him on a tour of the facilities as soon as the safety briefing was completed.
President Ramkalawan had the opportunity of visiting the different facilities and divisions directly involved in the production of soft drinks and the iconic and much-loved SeyBrew and Guinness products, including the canning line, the production lines and the packaging division. Along the way, he interacted with employees of the departments about their specific posts and experience within the company, also having the opportunity to taste test Guinness-brand products.
Upon concluding the tour, President Ramkalawan joined the management team for a meeting, in which they discussed the company’s strengths, plans and visions in moving forward, and the challenges the organisation faces in its operations.
“Seychelles Breweries is an organisation that had developed much, as well as an important partner for Seychelles. Firstly, it is an industry that is continuously developing and you will have observed the installation of two new tanks to allow them to increase production volume. It is a good partner because the company is looking at the different markets to which they can export their products and with any organisations who want to export, it is a step in the right direction for our economy,” said President Ramkalawan.
“With regard to employment, the company is one of those who encourage a lot of Seychellois employees, with Seychellois in the post of managers, Seychellois in key positions of responsibility, so this is also important to us. Seychelles Breweries is also one of those places who regularly keeps up with their taxes, they do not try to cut corners with government. So, as government, it is important for us to have business partners who pay their taxes, have Seychellois as shareholders allowing Seychellois to invest, as well as their investments that they make in the country,” President Ramkalawan stated.
The head of state was particularly interested in plans for the construction of a visitor centre, a substantial project for the entertainment of both visitors and locals.
“What is really important as well, is that last year the company was able to pay its employees a 13th month pay and a bonus. This year as government enters into dialogue with the private sector to help Seychellois, they have a plan that they will soon announce. We consult that the employees are satisfied and are encouraged, so am I,” President Ramkalawan added.
Managing director Neiland conveyed on behalf of management and the entire team of around 160 employees their satisfaction with the president’s visit, on the same day as the annual general meeting (AGM), and the announcement of solid results for the business and solid dividends for shareholders.
“We have some very exciting plans for the business going forward. One of the things that we have done heavily over the last number of years is that we invested heavily in the business, and actually that will allow us to build an export business going forward. This is important for us, in terms of generating more business, generating foreign exchange, bringing hard currency into the market, and bringing the SeyBrew brand to the world,” Mr Neiland stated.
During the visit, the president was gifted a memento of the very first Guinness label specially produced for the Seychelles market in 1973, a special branded Guinness presentation case and customised T-shirt.
The accompanying photos show some highlights of the President’s visit yesterday to the Seychelles Breweries.
Laura Pillay
