TT open for business – Bharath
Over 181 organisations have begun showcasing their goods and services to potential investors and buyers at the 14th Annual Trade and Investment Convention being held at the Hyatt Regency.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Vasant Bharath said the Convention, since its inception, has generated US $450 million or TT $2.7 billion in business.
TIC which was officially opened by Minister Bharath who also gave the feature address on behalf of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
The Convention will take place from June 12 to 15 and is considered to be the region’s largest business-to-business event bringing together manufacturers, service providers, exporters, buyers, wholesalers, distributors and investors attracting contingents from Brazil, Ghana, the UK, India, Canada, the United States and Argentina.
“For the first time in TIC’s 14 year history, the agencies aligned under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment will participate as one at the Convention,” Bharath said.
The Minister affirmed to the investors and delegates who packed the room for the opening ceremony that Trinidad and Tobago is open for business and is aggressively pursuing economic diversification and streamlining processes in favor of potential investors and business partners’.
Speaking to members of the media after his official tour of the Convention, Bharath said people who did not know where Trinidad and Tobago was certainly became aware of the country after the back to back visits of US Vice President Joseph Biden Jr. and the President of the People’s Republic of China.
He noted that government and the business sector needed to capitalise on this awareness as the visits also brought into focus the external investor confidence in T&T and its influence and economic capability in the Caribbean.
TIC’s buyers and potential investors can expect a series of ongoing attractions on the ‘Trade and Investment Boulevard’ for the duration of the Trade Show. Star attractions on the Boulevard will include daily Film Screening from local producers, a release of a music video compilation of local artiste, a Food and Beverage Courtyard and a Fashion Show featuring top local designers.