Business View Caribbean | September 2022

85 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 9, ISSUE 9 AWM INFRASTRUCTURE intentional act for Bijen. He stresses, “I’m trying to work directly with the source – no dealers in between that can change the processes.” Investing in new techniques and new equipment is something AWM takes seriously, as a means to protect the well being of their staff and to remain productive and efficient. Bijen explains, “If you have to lay pavers by hand and you are the whole day on your knees, it’s not good for your knees, not good for your back, but if you can do it by means of equipment, that helps. So, we are investing heavily in innovation.” Moving the company’s asphalt plant and workshops from Santa Martha to Barcadera, where the main offices are located, is another investment in AWM’s success. Bijen notes, “We will be very close to the harbor and to my main offices. That will decrease costs of transporting materials that we import for the asphalt, so that’s good transport cost wise, of infrastructural work or construction work, it’s very limited. So, you have to do the training yourself.” Aruban sister company, Albo Aruba, is a valued partner that AWM Infrastructure turns to when a job involves structural components. As for other partnerships, Bijen believes, “You have to build relationships when you’re working on a small island. What goes around comes around, you meet each other every day, in the supermarket, or in the bar, or restaurant.” With supplier relationships, especially since many are overseas, he suggests that communication is key. “They know what I want, they know that I am far away. If a machine breaks down and I need a part, I work with suppliers who know the essence of getting things here overnight in an airplane. That’s what you really need.” Working directly with suppliers and avoiding the middleman where possible is another