The government of Antigua and Barbuda has announced an ambitious manufacturing initiative centered on establishing a sparkling water bottling facility primarily targeting international markets. Trade Minister EP Chet Greene revealed this plan during the parliamentary debate on the 2026 national budget, positioning it as a strategic move to bolster export capabilities and reduce import dependency.
The innovative facility will utilize glass bottles for packaging and represents one of four manufacturing enterprises scheduled for launch in 2026. Minister Greene emphasized the plant’s export-oriented design, clarifying that the operation will focus specifically on sparkling water production for foreign markets.
This initiative forms part of a comprehensive economic strategy addressing multiple objectives: strengthening export capacity, promoting import substitution, alleviating pressure on foreign exchange reserves, and creating employment opportunities. Beyond the water bottling plant, the government plans to establish two paper-based manufacturing operations with significant export potential and a beer production facility aimed at expanding domestic beverage manufacturing.
Minister Greene articulated the government’s deliberate shift from an import-dependent economic model toward greater industrial diversification. The manufacturing drive connects to broader economic resilience goals, including job creation, supply chain stabilization, and foreign exchange generation through locally produced goods.
While specific export destinations remain undisclosed, Greene indicated alignment with Antigua and Barbuda’s expanding diplomatic and trade relationships, positioning local manufacturers to access external markets effectively. These projects constitute integral components of the government’s formal trade and industrial policy agenda for the upcoming fiscal year.