Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry met with His Excellency Oh Dong-il, Ambassador of South Korea to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday 16 July, 2024 at the Ministry Headquarters in Port of Spain.
The meeting facilitated Ambassador Dong-il’s farewell after three years of being based in Trinidad and Tobago and his 10th mission as a career diplomat. Minister Gopee-Scoon reflected on the ongoing relationship between the two countries, noting that while Trinidad and Tobago has generally been a net exporter to South Korea, the island has also imported a number of vehicles from the country along with motor car sparks, transport sea vessels, coated plastics, machinery parts and rolled aluminium. Total imports from South Korea were worth TT $555 million in 2022.
As the outgoing Ambassador, His Excellency discussed further interests in cultural exchanges and programmes for which the Minister agreed would be of mutual benefit particularly with the possibility of exploring investment opportunities in the film, music and creative industries of both nations.
Total exports from Trinidad and Tobago to South Korea in 2022 reached TT$1.9 billion, with top products including methanol, frozen fish, scrap metal and natural asphalt.
