Prime Minister Gaston Browne has revealed that the government is in active discussions with a Japanese car dealership to use Antigua and Barbuda as a transshipment point for thousands of vehicles, as part of a multi-phase plan to transform the St. John's port into a major regional trade hub.
According to Antigua News Room, Browne made the announcement on Pointe FM's Browne and Browne Show, outlining an ambitious expansion agenda that extends well beyond vehicle transshipment.
"We're discussing with a particular car dealership out of Japan the possibility of transshipping their vehicles here, but we need more space so we can store a few thousand vehicles," Browne said.
The vehicle transshipment arrangement represents only the first phase of a broader port development programme. "That is just the first phase. We have several phases for development of our port," Browne said, describing the current facility as the foundation of a much larger transformation.
Central to the expansion is a proposal to cut down Rat Island to generate additional land for cargo and logistics operations. "We're cutting down Rat Island to create more land space so we can provide more storage," he said. The plan also includes the construction of new marinas to strengthen the yachting sector and increase berthing capacity between Fort James and Judge Bay, as well as on the eastern side of Fort James.
Beyond vehicle handling, the government is pursuing a separate agreement to position the country as a broader regional shipping hub. "We have a deal that we're pursuing with a particular shipping agency about making Antigua and Barbuda a transshipment hub," Browne said. He added that the move would open access to goods from South America and Europe at more competitive prices for local businesses.
The expanded port would also house liquefied natural gas and fuel storage facilities to support bunkering operations for vessels. "We'll have LNG tanks there… and fuel tanks so that the boats can get bunkered here. That will be a new profit centre for the port and WIOC," Browne said.
To handle the anticipated increase in shipping activity, the harbour will be redesigned to accommodate cargo ships on both sides. "We'll be able to accommodate even more cargo ships on both sides… because with the increase in transshipment, you need more berthing space," he said.
Browne projected that the full suite of developments could raise the port's contribution to as much as ten percent of GDP. He described the moment as "an exciting period" for Antigua and Barbuda, framing the port expansion as a cornerstone of the government's strategy to broaden the country's revenue base and cement its role in regional logistics and trade.
