Reproduced from the Business Guardian 11-Aug-2011
By Asha Javeed
With a balance of trade already in T&T’s favour, T&T’s High Commissioner to Canada, Philip Buxo, is hoping to now deepen this relationship.
To this end, Buxo has already identified areas—investment opportunities for Canadian businesses and job opportunities for locals—to nurture the relationship.
“Canada’s knocking on T&T’s doors,” said the diplomat, who has been on the job for eight months, in an interview with the Business Guardian on Tuesday evening.
Buxo was appointed on December 24, 2010.
At 42, he readily admits to not fitting the stereotype of what a diplomat looks like. “You usually imagine someone a bit older and doing a lot of socialising. But a job is what you make it. I thought I’d do this while I’m young and I have the energy to give back. And I want to improve and upgrade the relationship between these two countries.”
The Canadian footprint in T&T is easily discernable in the banking sector where two of this country’s commercial banks—Scotiabank and RBC—are of Canadian origin. But Canada, said Buxo, wants to expand their interaction.
At 42, he readily admits to not fitting the stereotype of what a diplomat looks like. “You usually imagine someone a bit older and doing a lot of socialising. But a job is what you make it. I thought I’d do this while I’m young and I have the energy to give back. And I want to improve and upgrade the relationship between these two countries.”
The Canadian footprint in T&T is easily discernable in the banking sector where two of this country’s commercial banks—Scotiabank and RBC—are of Canadian origin. But Canada, said Buxo, wants to expand their interaction.
He explained that the Government’s intent to build five hospitals, through the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott), has caught the attention of healthcare providers in Canada.
“Hospitals are more than just bricks and mortar, they’re more than the cheapest interest-rate loan. They are about proper management, proper templates, quality equipment, systems, procedures, proper training in childcare.
"The Canadian Government has been able to do it and do it very well. And they want to partner with T&T to improve its healthcare development.”
Apart from healthcare, Buxo says the energy sector has three potential opportunities for Canadian businesses:
Apart from healthcare, Buxo says the energy sector has three potential opportunities for Canadian businesses:
• Partnering with Petrotrin to increase extraction capacity in Trinmar’s South West Soldado operations
• Employing Canadian technology to explore tar sands at Parrylands-Guapo fields which potentially contain two billion barrels of oil
• Exploring business opportunities in the melamine industry
But Canada’s energy sector—one of its largest export sectors with an industry revenue of Can$103.8 billion— also presents job opportunities for locals under its Canada Temporary Foreign Workers Programme.
But Canada’s energy sector—one of its largest export sectors with an industry revenue of Can$103.8 billion— also presents job opportunities for locals under its Canada Temporary Foreign Workers Programme.
Buxo is urging the Government to take advantage of Canada’s need for field and office staff in their exploration and production companies, pursuing oil sands production, by sending an established pool of accredited workers from T&T’s energy sector.
This initiative would mirror T&T’s approach in countries like Ghana by exporting energy expertise.
Buxo pointed out that T&T’s High Commission, which is based in Canada’s capital Ottawa and the Labour Liaison Branch in Toronto, are currently working with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education, Ministry of Labour, the University of T&T and Southern Alberta Technical Institute to develop specific training arrangements with Alberta.
There’s a labour shortage in more than 12 categories which include experienced engineers, plant operations and geophysical services.
Buxo observed that workers can be sourced from T&T from derrick hands to welders. He pointed out that Canadian businesses took advantage of recently concluded Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) and the Trade and Investment Convention (TIC), both promotional investment events held in June.
Buxo observed that workers can be sourced from T&T from derrick hands to welders. He pointed out that Canadian businesses took advantage of recently concluded Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) and the Trade and Investment Convention (TIC), both promotional investment events held in June.
Further, the Canadian Government will be entertaining a national security delegation trip to Canada from August 14 to 20. Minister of National Security John Sandy will head a seven member delegation which will include Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education, Fazal Karim.
The team will meet with the Chief of Criminal Intelligence, the Director General of the Canadian Police College and engage in a working luncheon with assistant commissioner Sandra Conlin.
Buxo stated that Canada’s regulations were some of the best in the world and their interest in assisting T&T by walking through their own regulatory process was commendable.
Karim is expected to meet with Paul Brennan, vice president of International Partnerships, Association of Canadian Community Colleges.
Karim is expected to meet with Paul Brennan, vice president of International Partnerships, Association of Canadian Community Colleges.
“Despite what’s happening in the global economy, Canada has remained strong. While the US has been downgraded, Canada has not. And T&T is on their radar.
“What we have to focus on is how the relationship can be mutually beneficial.”
No comments:
Post a Comment