“Time to Refresh Trade Relations” – T&T Minister of Trade

As many as thirty-four men and women are part of the trade mission to Belize and, according to the Minister of Trade and Industry, it is time for Belize and Trinidad to refresh trade relations between both countries.

Paula Gopee-Scoon

Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade & Industry, T&T

“So we’ve brought to Belize a very strong mission of about thirty-four persons and twenty-four businesses; large, small and medium-sized businesses as well.  This is an important occasion for us.  I’ll tell you why.  We came here a long time ago, so Trinidad & Tobago did bring missions to Belize, however, we hadn’t done so for a while and I think it’s important that we reset and refresh those trade relations, especially in terms of our CARICOM commitments to see if we can deepen the trade and investment relations between both countries.  As it is, Belize is a strong trading partner in the region for us, they are fourth in line and there are a number of products from Belize that we import in terms of your citrus products, oranges and concentrates, really, and grapefruit, pineapple concentrate as well, and also red beans, and I believe there are a few other types of beans as well.  We feel that there are other things that we can import from Belize, but Trinidad has an offer, as you know, we have a vibrant manufacturing sector so we do feel that there are a number of items that we can export to Belize.  But generally, it’s about increasing our trading relations and, of course, deepening our bilateral relations which is already strong.”