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‘Tap trade potential’:
Tremendous opportunities for Lankan businessmen in Trinidad and
Tobago - High Commissioner
Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI
The Sri Lankan business community has been invited to participate in
the second Trade and Investment Mission to Trinidad and Tobago which
will be held from June 22-27.
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Pundit Maniedeo Persad |
The High Commissioner of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Pundit
Maniedeo Persad said that there are tremendous opportunities available
under its open economy and there are no restrictions whatsoever with
regard to foreign exchange.
He was addressing the Members of the Federation of Chambers of
Commerce Sri Lanka (FCCISL) at the Chamber Secretariat on Tuesday.
Persad said that it is not necessary to have a joint venture business
partner in Trinidad and Tobago to start a business over there and
anybody can purchase a five-acre land to build a house to reside or to
put up a plant without any approval from the government.
He said that Trinidad and Tobago, a fast developing nation between
the north and south Americas in the Caribbean has growth and dynamism
which Sri Lanka has still not tapped.
The country is very stable politically, an economic leader in the
region and a destination for business and tourism. Before the economic
crisis Trinidad and Tobago was the world’s largest natural gas exporter
which exported 70 per cent of its natural gas to the US, he said.
According to the country’s capital program the government is planning
to spend USD 4.5 billion annually to implement a range of projects.
Fifty-four per cent of this will be on initiatives to enable competitive
businesses.
These initiatives include six science and technology parks across the
country, creation of large farms to secure food supplies a vibrant Agri
business sector and setting up a world-class research institution.
President, FCCISL Kosala Wickramanayake said that the opportunities
for foreign investments in Trinidad and Tobago are highly promising and
in relation to trade too the Sri Lankan export sector in particular
needs to examine the possibilities of exploring the market in Trinidad
and Tobago for its products. |
