China EXIMBank meets Minister Bharath

Minister Vasant Bharath (4th from left) with the visiting team – Ms. Zheng Qiyi, Mr. Zhang Bin, Mr. Mu Linlin, Ms. Chen Xiaomin, Ambassador Xinyuan and Ms. Hou Yuhan

China EXIMBank meets Vasant Bharath, Minister of Finance and the Economy (Ag.)

December 16 2014:- On Monday 15th December, 2014, Senator the Honourable Vasant Bharath, the Acting Minister of Finance and the Economy, along with senior Ministry officials, met with a visiting high level delegation from the China EXIMBank, including Ms. Chen Xiaomin, General Manager of Evaluation Department; Ms. Hou Yuhan, Project Manager of Concessional Loan Department; Mr. Mu Linlin, Judge of Credit Approval Committee; Mr. Zhang Bin, Deputy General Manager of Risk Management; and Ms. Zheng Qiyi, Division Director of Evaluation Department.

The visiting delegation was led by His Excellency Huang Xinyuan, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Trinidad and Tobago; accompanied by Ms. Ying Lui and Ms. Zhitao Guo of the Chinese Embassy.

The primary purpose of the meeting was to discuss current projects funded by the Government of the People’s Republic of China. Ms. Xiamin stated that ‘we come to your beautiful country to learn more about the country, to conduct on-site inspection on the various projects funded by us; and to learn more about future cooperation.’ She noted that the visiting team was ‘quite impressed’ by two projects in particular, the Couva Children’s Hospital and the Sports Facility. Further noting that ‘we are quite satisfied with the implementation of the current projects and are committed to future cooperation with your country’.

The Acting Finance Minister told the delegation that ‘the Government is focused on people centred development throughout the country’, and has engaged in a programme of developmental works which ‘allows us to open up new economic spaces’ for the benefit of all our citizens. He thanked the Ambassador and representatives of the China EXIMBank for its confidence in the people of Trinidad and Tobago and for their ongoing support of the country’s economic development.

The Ministry team included Mr. Vishnu Dhanpaul, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and the Economy; Ms. Edwina Leacock, Chief Technical Advisor, Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Communications; Mr. Adrian Thomas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mrs. Yolande Agard-Simmons, Manager, Communications and Events, Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Communications; Mr. Irfan Hosein, Policy Development Specialist, Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Communications; Ms. Shivanna Sawh, Senior Corporate Communications Officer; and Ms. Naveena Rampersad, Personal Assistant to the Honourable Minister.