RUBIS LAUDED FOR IMPACT ON BUSINESS LANDSCAPE

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, has lauded RUBiS Energy Jamaica Limited for its transformational impact on the Jamaican business landscape and its commitment to the growth and development of the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector.

 “The company has transitioned the operation of many of its service stations to local entrepreneurs, whilst forging strategic partnerships with local companies,” Minister Hylton said, at the company’s first anniversary celebration at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge on Thursday, June 1, 2015.

RUBiS is an international company specializing in the distribution and marketing of petroleum and chemical products, and operates in 17 territories across the Caribbean, with Jamaica being the largest single entity, with the largest privately owned fuel storage facility.

 “The company’s investment in a new state-of-the-art loading gantry and the upgrading of all its service stations, its investment in the training of employees, its commitment to job creation for 90 staff directly and a further 910 staff indirectly via its retail network and related operations, along with its overall corporate social responsibility through outreach and community development projects, highlight that RUBiS is a responsible company that cares about people,” the Minister said.

He added that the company’s actions have set a new standard for other local and foreign companies to follow.

On the matter of the Logistics Hub Initiative, Mr. Hylton noted that such a thrust creates increased opportunities for companies such as RUBiS to diversify into bunkering, petrochemicals and other downstream industries.

In terms of improvement in the intellectual property regime, the Minister said that this too presents a unique opportunity for RUBiS as an innovator.

 “Products developed by the company will be able to benefit from the recent amendment to the Copyright Act, providing longer periods of protection from 50 years to 95 years for copyrighted works. And, the impending amendments to the Trade Marks Act and the accession to the Madrid Protocol, will allow international registration of trademarks registered in one country (such as Jamaica), to be protected in the territories of up to 95 members of the World Intellectual Property Organization,” he noted.

RUBiS Energy Jamaica Limited manages a network of over 50 service stations across Jamaica, serving retail, commercial and industrial customers alike.