Ministers to lead a delegation of thirty four (34) companies from Trinidad and Tobago to participate in the Havana International Trade Fair (FIHAV) 2016.
Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry and the Honourable Nicole Olivierre, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries will lead a delegation of thirty four (34) companies from Trinidad and Tobago to participate in the Havana International Trade Fair (FIHAV) 2016. The Fair which takes place from October 31st to November 4th 2016 will be used as a platform to further develop the commercial alliance between Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba and to enhance the mechanisms that promote trade between both countries.
In addressing the FIHAV 2016 delegates at the briefing session held at exporTT Limited on Monday 24 October, 2016, Senator Paula Gopee-Scoon expressed her delight at the number of companies that were participating this year and highlighted the importance of expanding the country’s exports in light of the current economic climate and the decline in commodity prices. She said ‘the Government’s role is to be a facilitator and an enabler to encourage enhanced trade relations. Our Trade Facilitation Office in Cuba continues to play an integral role in supporting our local exporters with accessing the market.’.
Minister Gopee-Scoon underscored the benefits of Trinidad and Tobago’s participation at the Fair stating ‘the FIHAV 2016 will provide our exporters with the opportunity to gain access to a market that is becoming increasingly liberalized; establish new business contacts and gather market intelligence on the Cuban market. It will also allow the energy delegation being led by the Minister of Energy and Energy Industries to advance discussions in the area of export of energy services’.
At FIHAV2016, Minister Gopee-Scoon will also be engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with the Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment of Cuba and other Cuban officials. These meetings will allow for further discussions on facilitating increased trade between both countries. The Havana International Trade Fair (FIHAV) is the premier Trade Fair in the Latin American Region with over 60 countries represented and approximately 150,000 visitors.
Some of the entities represented on the delegation are Ansa Chemicals Limited; Blue Waters Products Limited; Carib Brewery Limited; John Dickinson & Co. (West Indies) Limited; Kaleidoscope Paints Limited; National Flour Mills; Sacha Cosmetics Limited; Eximbank Limited; Tobago House of Assembly; Bermudez Biscuit Company; Physicians Pharmaceuticals Limited; RBC Royal Bank (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited and the Trinidad & Tobago Manufacturers’ Association.
