Government Projects Job Growth as Port Expansion Accelerates
Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the government expects significant job creation as Antigua and Barbuda moves forward with its port modernization programme and advances plans for a regional transshipment hub.
Speaking at the commissioning of a new cargo-handling crane, Browne said the ongoing transformation of the Deepwater Harbour will open employment opportunities across multiple sectors, including technical fields, engineering and logistics. He said young people in particular stand to benefit as the industry expands and new career paths emerge within the maritime economy.
According to Browne, the port upgrade — part of an estimated EC$500 million investment in cargo and cruise modernization — is designed to increase cargo-handling capacity, reduce turnaround times and strengthen the reliability of operations. He said those improvements will support the wider economic goal of positioning Antigua and Barbuda as a competitive regional logistics center.
Browne said the establishment of a fully operational transshipment port will attract larger cargo volumes and stimulate a series of spin-off industries such as bunkering, ship repair, marine supplies and warehousing. Those emerging services, he said, are expected to create entrepreneurial openings while expanding the demand for skilled workers.
“The investment will stimulate job creation across multiple sectors, offering employment for technicians, engineers, logistics specialists and young people seeking new career paths,” Browne said.
He added that the port’s expansion will strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s role in international trade, open new markets for local producers and increase government revenues through taxes, fees and port-related activities.
Browne described the new crane as more than an equipment upgrade, calling it a symbol of national progress and part of a broader drive to build an agile, diversified and globally connected economy.
