Trade Minister speaks at the Distinguished Leadership and Innovation Conference 2016

TRINIDAD:  April 11, 2016: Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry addressed some three hundred (300) plus distinguished business leaders at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business’ Distinguished Leadership and Innovation Conference 2016 themed ‘Roaring out of a Recession’ on Monday 11 April, 2016.
 
In her Opening Address, Minister Gopee-Scoon noted that the theme of the Conference is ‘very apt and although Trinidad and Tobago is feeling the squeeze, we are still more fortunate than others and we do have what it takes – the people, the resources, the desire and will to bring ourselves, as a country to a better place.’   She outlined the various transformation strategies the Government would address in an effort to transform the economy away from oil and gas, which includes the ongoing consultations with the maritime stakeholders to create new opportunities; the development of ship repair and dry docking, bunkering and transhipment services; establishment of special economic zones to facilitate maritime investments; the provision of generous tax incentives for agro-processing; and the development of a National Export Strategy, a National Investment Strategy and a National Services Policy.
 
Senator Gopee-Scoon called for greater use of Public Private Partnership to transform the economy. She said ‘public private partnerships must become a reality as we seek to attract greater foreign direct investment, facilitate economic development across all regions of the country and enhance private sector participation’.
 
Mr. Arthur Lok Jack, Director of the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business and Chairman of the Associated Brands Industries Limited in his Welcome Remarks noted that challenging economic times are being experienced in Trinidad and Tobago, noting that ‘companies need to take risk outside of its comfort zone and decide whether you want to be internationally competitive or you want to compete internationally. Let us use these rough times to find the point of interjection between our aspirations and our capabilities’.
 
The Keynote speaker at the Conference was Professor Donald Sull whose presentation focussed on ‘emerging triumphantly during a recession’.