JV Driver and its group of companies are one of Canada’s largest privately owned construction firms, undertaking building and infrastructure projects across a broad spectrum and in select markets around the world.
Read how JV Driver has worked with government partners to bring priority projects, like the construction of cruise pier at Port Zante in Basseterre, St. Kitts and a new port terminal in Ghana to fruition.
About JV Driver Group
Founded in 1989, the JV Driver Group (JV Driver) is a private investment company with a number of divisions, including automotive, insurance, hospitality, real estate development, and construction.
Their construction division focuses on delivering solutions internationally with a history of delivering complex, challenging projects in remote locations. This capability has allowed them to work on a variety of construction projects including constructing roads, bridges, airports, and port facilities.
Their extensive background in construction provides hundreds of years of combined experience through multiple companies, including partnerships with global leaders. They provide services in the industrial, heavy civil, plant maintenance and marine sectors, along with all aspect of building construction, including high-rise, commercial, multi-unit residential and industrial buildings.
JV Driver has created strong partnerships with the Canadian government to deliver finance, design, and build solutions around the globe. This collaboration has given them the expertise to deliver complex projects around the world including their latest project for an inland container terminal in Ghana.
Company Offering
Source: Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, Inc.
Source: RAM Consulting
G2G Contract at Port Zante, St. Kitts & Nevis
In partnership with CCC through a government to government (G2G) contract, JV Driver completed a second pier at Port Zante, St. Kitts & Nevis that can accommodate the new Oasis class mega cruise ships to meet the demands of the nation’s expanding tourism market.
The construction of the 60 ft. wide and 670 ft. long pier on the west of the current pier and south of the marina at Port Zante began in 2018. The design had to accommodate two Oasis class cruise ships, the world’s largest and longest passenger ships, and take into account hurricane winds and wave forces.
The Honourable Ian Liburd, St. Kitts and Nevis Minister of Public Infrastructure, marked the opening of the pier as “one of vision,” highlighting that the project had been in the works for a number of years, deeming it a necessary expenditure for the growth of tourism in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Contracting and financing
The fixed-price commercial contract for building the construction of the pier was signed between the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA) of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and CCC. JV Driver was CCC’s prime sub-contractor for the project. This arrangement ensured that any potential costs or time overruns were managed between CCC and JV Driver at no risk to SCASPA.
The $48 million price tag was financed under a syndicate arrangement of four local entities – the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank (SKNANB); the St. Kitts and Nevis Social Security Board; the St. Kitts and Nevis Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) and the St. Kitts and Nevis Trading and Development Company (TDC).
G2G Contract in Kpone, Ghana
In another major international project, JV Driver partnered with CCC in 2021 to deliver a $110 million port terminal to the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA). Through this partnership, JV Driver was able to secure the international contract that resulted in the transfer of GPHA’s existing container handling and devanning terminal in Tema to a new 40-acre site in Kpone, Ghana.
Specifications and financing
This new port terminal includes a devanned car park, devanning area, empty container station, container storage, and freight station, as well as peripheral support shops, offices, and access road. The project, which took 5 years to complete, was delivered by JV Driver through an Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Financing contract.
The Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana at the time of the project, Kati Csaba, said the project’s successful completion is a demonstration of Ghana’s strong bilateral cooperation with Canada.
“This facility will enable Ghana to benefit more fully from increased economic opportunities presented by the AfCFTA and contribute to Ghana’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Source: Canadian Commercial Corporation
Other JV Driver Successes
JV Driver has a successful track record to deliver construction solutions internationally. Other notable international projects include the International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica and a pier expansion in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
Canada’s Bilateral Relationship with Ghana
The Canadian Government is committed to working with Ghana as partners to further bilateral relations, explore trade and investment opportunities, continue development work and uphold shared values, such as respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of the law.
In 2020, Ghana was Canada’s fourth-largest exports destination in sub-Saharan Africa, after Nigeria, Botswana and South Africa. Canada’s trade and investment goals in Africa include opening new markets to increase opportunities for Canadian exports and focusing on specific sectors, such as extractives and energy, to highlight Canadian expertise and enhance Canada’s reputation as a world-class corporate citizen committed to sharing knowledge and expertise.
$475M
Total Trade in 2021
$373M
Canadian Exports to Ghana in 2021
$102M
Canadian Imports from Ghana in 2021
This commitment to the bilateral relationship with Ghana is reflected in JV Driver’s ability to offer their construction services in this international market.
Canada’s Bilateral Relationship with St. Kitts and Nevis
Canada and Saint Kitts and Nevis have had a longstanding and collaborative relationship since 1983, when Saint Kitts and Nevis gained independence.
The focus of the relationship lies on a wide variety of important issues, notably climate and economic resilience. Following the devastating 2017 hurricane season in the Caribbean, Canada announced the $100 million Pledge for Caribbean Reconstruction and Economic and Climate Resilience to support St. Kitts and Nevis and the region in reconstruction and climate resilience. This included strengthening natural disaster planning and response through organizations such as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.
$8M
Total Trade in 2021
$5M
Canadian Exports to St. Kitts and Nevis in 2021
$3M
Canadian Imports from St. Kitts and Nevis in 2021
Canada has several other regional engagements that further the mutual goals of the countries and allow for important development projects delivered by Canadian companies such as JV Driver.
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About CCC
The Canadian Commercial Corporation is a federal crown corporation and is only the Canadian agency that offers commercial advocacy, collaborative project development, and international contracting expertise to help Canadian businesses secure contracts with foreign governments at the national, state, and municipal level.
Our International Prime Contractor is a fee-based program where we sign government to government (G2G) contracts with foreign government buyers for the sale of Canadian solutions.
Our U.S. DoD Prime Contractor program is a free program funded by the Government of Canada and supported by the U.S. Government, to help Canadians sell their products, services and solutions to the U.S. military. To learn more about CCC and how we can help you, contact us.
Last updated: September 2022
