A new local brewery is expected to begin producing beer in the first quarter of 2027, Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced Saturday, as the government moves to strengthen Antigua and Barbuda's manufacturing sector.
According to Antigua News Room, Browne made the announcement during his weekly Pointe FM programme, revealing that the project is being developed through a partnership with Mantege Distillery. He said the brewery is expected to be fully financed and under construction before the end of this year.
"I had a discussion a few days ago with Anthony and Vento of Mantege Distillery. We partnered with them to create our own local beer, to have a brewery," Browne said.
The prime minister indicated that financing is nearly secured, identifying a likely lender. "He says by the end of this year they have all the funding and so on in place. I think it's ECAB who's funding it. I stand corrected, but I think it's ECAB," he said.
Browne said construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with commercial operations set to follow shortly after. "By the end of this year that brewery should be fully constructed and operations start early in 2027, first quarter of 2027," he said.
The prime minister presented the brewery as one of several private and public sector investments demonstrating broad economic expansion. "So there is no sector, not even agriculture," Browne said, before outlining additional planned investments in the agricultural sector, including abattoirs, dams and ponds.
Browne also announced that the government recently secured a US$9 million grant to expand agricultural infrastructure, supplementing funds already committed locally. "We got a grant of US$9 million and that's going to help to build out the agriculture infrastructure. Again, we had allocated about six or seven million dollars prior, so a lot of activity is taking place on the island. We are trying to build capacity in every single area," he said.
The brewery announcement formed part of Browne's broader assessment of ongoing development projects across Antigua and Barbuda, spanning sports, manufacturing and agriculture — all aimed, he said, at diversifying the economy and expanding local production.
