Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry welcomed a delegation of investors from the People’s Republic of China, today, Friday 20 October, 2023 at the Ministry’s Head Office in Port of Spain. The delegation which was organized by Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) and facilitated by invesTT, the national investment promotion agency was led by Mr. Cui Yi, Chief Investment Promotion Officer at BCEG, represented a range of Chinese manufacturers in the construction, furniture, footwear, environmental, renewable energy and agricultural industries.
During the meeting, Minister Gopee-Scoon acknowledged the longstanding fraternal relationship Trinidad and Tobago has enjoyed with the People’s Republic of China, pointing to the Phoenix Park Industrial Estate (PPIE) as the first Belt & Road project completed in the Caribbean. She underscored the efforts of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to increase trade and investment, highlighting our ideal location, low utility rates, highly skilled population, preferential access to key markets through our trade agreements including the USA, Canada, Panama and Colombia, and attractive fiscal and non-fiscal incentives under the new Special Economic Zones regime.
In addition to a tour of the PPIE, the delegation’s itinerary included meetings with executives of the Pt. Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation (PLIPDECO) and the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA). Mr. Yi indicated his pleasure with the outcome of the PPIE, and underscored the good relationship between BCEG and the Government throughout the project. “We are very proud of the Phoenix Park Industrial Estate. It is one of the best parks in Trinidad and Tobago, and it is ready for investments,” the Minister responded.
Also in attendance were Mr. Randall Karim, Permanent Secretary (Ag), Ministry of Trade and Industry; Mr. Gerard Noel, Director invesTT; and Mr. Wang Tao, Project Manager, BCEG Trinidad and Tobago.
The Minister will lead a delegation from the Ministry of Trade and Industry in November 2023 to the 16th China LAC Business Summit, Beijing; the 6th China International Import-Expo, Shanghai; and a Promotional Investment Tour of Jiangsu province, China, to promote Trinidad and Tobago’s export potential and investment opportunities.
