“Successful Business Seminar in Delhi" says T&T’s Minister of Trade & Industry Stephen Cadiz

Trinidad and Tobago was afforded the opportunity to showcase itself at a Business Seminar in Delhi on Friday at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Delhi.

The Forum titled “India-Trinidad and Tobago:Strengthening Economic Cooperation and Exploring New Synergies” was sponsored and facilitated by three key private sector bodies, namely: 

• The Associate Chamber of India 
• The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry 
• The Confederation of Indian Industry

It was a collaborative effort among the sponsors and India’s High Commission to Trinidad and Tobago, Malay Mishra, and Trinidad and Tobago’s High Commissioner to India, Chandradath Singh

There were two sessions: "Emerging Bilateral Trade and Investment Opportunities" and "Strengthening Economic Cooperation and Exploring Cooperation and Exploring New Synergies”.

The presenters on behalf of Trinidad and Tobago were: 

• Shyamal Chandradathsingh, Manager, Investor Sourcing, InvesTT
• Atiba Phillips, Chairman of the National information and Communication Technology Company
• Jwala Rambarran, Chairman, National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology

Each of them provided background information on their respective fields of expertise, sensitizing participants to the experience in Trinidad and Tobago and identifying opportunities for partnership with the Indian business sector.

Trade Minister Stephen Cadiz and Foreign Affairs and Communications Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan spoke at the second session. 

Cadiz highlighted the economic ties between the two Republics and encouraged Indians to invest in Trinidad and Tobago. He said getting into T&T provides an opportunity easy access to the North, Central and South American markets as well as Europe. 

He made the point that India’s expertise is more than clothing and jewellery, noting its position as a power house in ICT, in particular, he focused on the need for contemporary Trinidad and Tobago to meet contemporary India.

Subhash Aggarwal, Co-Chairman, Capital Markets Committee, ASSOCHAM and Chairman and Managing Director, SMC Global Securities Ltd and P. Rajendra, Chairman, CII National Committee on Higher Education and Chief Operating Officer, NIIT Ltd expressed the view that despite the challenges faced by both nations and in light of the rich cultural heritage, cooperation between both countries must continue and that it must be multi-faceted and based on the respective countries’ human resource capacity.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar noted that India is a relatively young nation with a young population.

She said the visit by the T&T delegation provides an excellent opportunity to build partnerships in many sectors, especially in education, health, ICT, and agriculture. She recommended the use of private –public sector partnerships in these and other sectors such as fashion, film and animation. 

She said her country is not looking for handouts but for partnerships.