Kamla Persad-Bissessar was speaking at a media briefing at Piarco Airport shortly after her return home.
She said the summit was an opportunity to market Trinidad & Tobago as the gateway to the Americas to investors seeking to set up manufacturing enterprises in the country.
"This Summit saw the revival and development of many fruitful partnerships between Trinidad & Tobago and members of the Organisation of American States (OAS)," she said.
She gave an outline of some of the significant outcomes, including the signing of a Loan Agreement with Andean Development Bank and the country's membership in the Andean Development Corporation (CAF).
"This partnership between Trinidad and Tobago and the CAF is not a “one-way-street” as there are many shared benefits that accrue to both parties," she stated.
The Prime Minister said Trinidad & Tobago had been a Series C Shareholder in the CAF since 1994, a status that gave the country very limited access to CAF financing and to opportunities to expand business and investment relations throughout Latin America.
She said the Government has agreed to subscribe to 22,772 Series C shares over a period of three years, increasing its capital subscription in CAF by US$323 Million to become a full member of the CAF.
Persad-Bissessar said such membership would specifically allow the country to:
"This Summit saw the revival and development of many fruitful partnerships between Trinidad & Tobago and members of the Organisation of American States (OAS)," she said.
She gave an outline of some of the significant outcomes, including the signing of a Loan Agreement with Andean Development Bank and the country's membership in the Andean Development Corporation (CAF).
"This partnership between Trinidad and Tobago and the CAF is not a “one-way-street” as there are many shared benefits that accrue to both parties," she stated.
The Prime Minister said Trinidad & Tobago had been a Series C Shareholder in the CAF since 1994, a status that gave the country very limited access to CAF financing and to opportunities to expand business and investment relations throughout Latin America.
She said the Government has agreed to subscribe to 22,772 Series C shares over a period of three years, increasing its capital subscription in CAF by US$323 Million to become a full member of the CAF.
Persad-Bissessar said such membership would specifically allow the country to:
- Substantially increase access to CAF financing up to 15% of the CAF portfolio which in absolute terms amounts to in excess of US$1 billion by 2015
- Participate in the governance in the premier financing institution in Latin America through the appointment of a Series A Director and its Alternate Director to the Board of Directors of the CAF
- Strengthen economic and political relations with other Latin American and Caribbean countries; and Participate in high-level regional economic fora as a member of the Board of Directors of the CAF
The Prime Minister also spoke about bilateral meetings she held on the sidelines of the summit to discuss a number of trade and diplomatic issues. Meetings were held with the leaders of Guatemala, Canada, Panama, Brazil and Chile.
The discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper centred primarily on prospects in the energy industry and health care, she said.
"I am most appreciative of the Government of Canada’s assistance in the development of our local health care system and look forward to working with the Canadian Government as we construct an oncology centre in Penal.
"Mr. Harper expressed Canada's interest in enhancing its trade and economic relationship with CARICOM through a bilateral Trade and Development Agreement which is currently under negotiation.
"Prime Minister Harper is also keen for Canadian companies to participate in our local oil and gas industry, given our recent 80 million barrel oil find. Already there are several Canadian companies working in Trinidad and Tobago," Persad-Bissessar stated.
She also gave details of her discussions with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to discuss a number of important bilateral issues, including:
The discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper centred primarily on prospects in the energy industry and health care, she said.
"I am most appreciative of the Government of Canada’s assistance in the development of our local health care system and look forward to working with the Canadian Government as we construct an oncology centre in Penal.
"Mr. Harper expressed Canada's interest in enhancing its trade and economic relationship with CARICOM through a bilateral Trade and Development Agreement which is currently under negotiation.
"Prime Minister Harper is also keen for Canadian companies to participate in our local oil and gas industry, given our recent 80 million barrel oil find. Already there are several Canadian companies working in Trinidad and Tobago," Persad-Bissessar stated.
She also gave details of her discussions with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to discuss a number of important bilateral issues, including:
- Memorandum of Understanding between Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago for an air services agreement which will allow for a direct air transportation link between the two countries
- Rio +20 in June, 2012 to work with the United Nations on a General Assembly Resolution to achieve Sustainable Development
- The establishment of an Embrapa model farm for CARICOM which is to be set up in Trinidad
EMBRAPA is one of the world's most successful agricultural research Institutes. She said with Trinidad and Tobago’s stated objective of achieving food security, the farm, to be located in central Trinidad, would play a crucial role in boosting the production methods of our local farmers.
"Agriculture will become a real industry as has been the mandate given to the Minister of Food Production. I have asked the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Food Production to fast track the arrangements with Brazil and Caricom," she said. She added that T&T will also be looking into the importation of beef from Brazil.
"Agriculture will become a real industry as has been the mandate given to the Minister of Food Production. I have asked the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Food Production to fast track the arrangements with Brazil and Caricom," she said. She added that T&T will also be looking into the importation of beef from Brazil.
The Prime Minister and her delegation stopped in Panama on the way home where she held discussions with government officials. She told reporters her discussions with President Ricardo Martinelli focused on advancing the CARICOM-Latin America trade agenda.
In addition she said Panama expressed a deep interest in T&T’s energy sector. "The President is very interested in purchasing propane and butane gas from Trinidad and Tobago and we agreed to explore this initiative at the earliest opportunity.
"There is also an opportunity for Trinidad and Tobago to sell National Petroleum products to Panama which will include the establishment of a lubricant blending plant and a LPG bottling facility," she said.
Panama’s Minister of Energy will be visiting Trinidad & Tobago next week to to discuss this further.Persad-Bissessar said one of the more important issues at the summit was the need for enhanced citizen security and safety throughout the Americas.
"Organised crime continues to plague our nations but it is my firm belief that through our continued cooperative efforts, we can begin to tackle this far-reaching obstacle to our regional security.
In addition she said Panama expressed a deep interest in T&T’s energy sector. "The President is very interested in purchasing propane and butane gas from Trinidad and Tobago and we agreed to explore this initiative at the earliest opportunity.
"There is also an opportunity for Trinidad and Tobago to sell National Petroleum products to Panama which will include the establishment of a lubricant blending plant and a LPG bottling facility," she said.
Panama’s Minister of Energy will be visiting Trinidad & Tobago next week to to discuss this further.Persad-Bissessar said one of the more important issues at the summit was the need for enhanced citizen security and safety throughout the Americas.
"Organised crime continues to plague our nations but it is my firm belief that through our continued cooperative efforts, we can begin to tackle this far-reaching obstacle to our regional security.
"The Governments of the United States of America and Canada continue to lend their full support the Americas in this respect and this is evident in President Obama’s pledge of increasing the United States commitment to more than $130 million US dollars to the Americas for supporting citizen safety and security," she said.
Persad-Bissessar restated her government's commitment to work in a spirit of collaboration and partnership with the business sector in the goal of economic transformation.
"The business sector will find that our doors are open for collaborations; indeed it is open to all other sectors engaged in the process of nation building and securing our future," she said.
Persad-Bissessar restated her government's commitment to work in a spirit of collaboration and partnership with the business sector in the goal of economic transformation.
"The business sector will find that our doors are open for collaborations; indeed it is open to all other sectors engaged in the process of nation building and securing our future," she said.
No comments:
Post a Comment