The Primary Group of Builders, headed by its President and CEO, UPERDFI Member William Christopher “Wally” Liu, Jr., led the opening of the 19-hectare ship-building and ship repair facility in Buenavista, Bohol on November 28, 2023. The Artemis Marine and Industrial Construction Inc. (AMICI) Marine Shipyard is expected to generate jobs, spur entrepreneurship and bring in more economic activities in Buenavista, a town whose main livelihood is agriculture and fisheries. The facility is equipped to handle 12 ships simultaneously, and provides employment for at least 400 workers, with 80 percent sourced locally.
Continuing the pioneering efforts of his late father, William Liu, who started a small construction firm in Cebu some 70 years ago, Wally has built the Primary Group into a leading conglomerate involved in numerous industries, such as property development, healthcare, hospitality, construction materials and technical/vocational education in the VisMin area.
Buenavista Mayor Dave Duallo emphasized the transformative impact of AMICI on the community, praising its commitment to inclusive growth and hiring of out-of-school youths. Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado sees the facility as a gateway to economic development, positioning Buenavista as a potential economic zone. By establishing SKILLS, for School of Knowledge for Industrial Labor, Leadership and Service, a tech-voc academy in the shipyard complex, AMICI plans to extend its capacity to accommodate up to 20 ships, AMICI will surely to contribute not only to the maritime industry but also to the overall economic development of the region, inspiring hope and pride in providing employment opportunities for the local community.
Wally commented: Eight years of perseverance and patience coming to fruition. Now the real work begins. This is interesting and challenging engineering. What our country lacks but badly needs. Now we are given the chance to raise the bar and provide services that we deserve. There are a lot of opportunities in the country beyond crowded Manila!
The Primary Group supports faculty and student development in the UP College of Engineering by establishing two William Liu Professorial Chairs (in honor of the firm’s founder) and several scholarships, and furbishing dormitory rooms.
Sources: SunStar Cebu and Manila Bulletin
