September 2015 Issue Business View Caribbean

Business View Caribbean - September 2015 53 culverts, and one footbridge. It started in 2011 and is expected to be finished in 2016.” In fact, the project is so extensive that the entire aggregate sector cannot meet its demands, meaning that some material has to be imported. Even though National Quarries is state-owned, Cook explains that the business must operate with its own working capital and generate its own revenues. “We don’t receive subsidies from the government,” he says. So while the company may operate the largest quarry, and is the single biggest player in the sector, it still must compete with the many privately-owned enterprises throughout the island. That is one reason, explains Cook, why National Quarries recently became ISO certified in two standards – environmental and quality. But “the two key areas that allow us a competi- tive advantage,” he says, “are affordability - because we are the low end of the market - and quality. And because of economies of scale we are able to position our prices at an affordable level.” In order to remain competitive as time goes on, Na- tional Quarries future business plans include the ad- dition of another mine to its portfolio – a pale yellow limestone quarry whose material would be used for secondary and agricultural roads - and the acquisition of a large-capacity plant in partnership with a contrac- tor, in order to increase its production volumes.