Business View Caribbean | Volume 8, Issue 8

61 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 8, ISSUE 8 F&R CONSTRUCT ION GROUP INC . projects going on and we are building houses all over the area. We are not building as fast as we could, because the process is extremely slow in getting us construction permits. Construction permits in Puerto Rico are not easy but we are moving along and the program is starting to pick up some volume.” One of the big challenges in the construction sector in Puerto Rico is that there is almost no stock material on hand because the government charges a premium for keeping material in stock. Industry leaders such as F&R have been trying to change the law but have been unsuccessful Founded in 1937 in Milan, MAPEI is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chemical products for the building industry and has contributed to the construction of some of the most important architectural and infrastructure works worldwide. With 90 subsidiaries operating in 57 countries and 83 manufacturing plants in 36 nations, MAPEI Group employs over 10,500 staff worldwide. The foundations for the success of the company are specialization, internationalization, research & development, and sustainability. MAPEI’s reach throughout the Caribbean is extensive, having first established an office of MAPEI Group in San Juan in 1974, and founding MAPEI Caribe, with a plant in Dorado, in 1999. MAPEI Caribe has a strong local staff and a strong local presence, focused on meeting the construction needs of all the Caribbean islands from Puerto Rico to Turks and Caicos. “The 2000s have been a decade of growth and expansion for MAPEI Caribe,” explains Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, General Manager, MAPEI Caribe. “We have expanded into a secondary warehouse in Puerto Rico to help manage inventory and distribution. We have opened an office in the Dominican Republic to better serve our clients. And, we have expanded our product offering.” Those product lines include innovative solutions for tile and stone installations, general construction solutions focusing on concrete repairs and admixtures, and a wide selection of solutions for floor coverings. “Innovation and quality are in MAPEI Caribe’s DNA. We use the latest cutting-edge technology, while maintaining the highest- quality ingredients to care for our clients and our planet,” states Sanchez Ruiz. ...... For more information, please visit our website www.mapei.com/pr