Trinidad PM to launch Caribbean Investment Forum this week
Monday April 11 2011 | 04:59 AM

The Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF), the first part of Trinidad and Tobago Investment Week 2011, will be officially launched on Tuesday. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is expected to deliver the opening address at the launch.

The CIF will take place from June 13 to 14 at and is co-hosted by the government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC). Participants at the CIF will move directly onto the second part of Trinidad and Tobago Investment Week -- the annual Trade and Investment Convention (TIC), which takes place from June 15 to 18, 2011.

The Forum is designed to showcase investment opportunities in Trinidad and Tobago and across the region and the potential of the Caribbean to act as a bridge between Commonwealth markets and the Americas. There will be strong delegations from Commonwealth countries and the Americas region. Participants will include business leaders, investors and government officials. Major local corporations such as the National Gas Company, Atlantic, BPTT and British Gas have already pledged sponsorship to the CIF.

Persad-Bissessar launched the CIF in the UK in conjunction with the CBC, during her recent trip to London. At that event she highlighted Trinidad and Tobago’s investment advantages and urged UK business persons and investors to participate in the Forum and more importantly, to consider Trinidad and Tobago as an investment partner.

The CIF opening session will be addressed by the prime minister, who currently holds the position of Commonwealth Chairperson-in-Office; the first woman to do so.

Plenary sessions will focus on mobilising investment, enhancing regional cooperation and capital markets and financial services. Sector specific sessions will be held on the following topics: energy: oil, gas and renewables; ICT and telecommunications; agribusiness, food and beverage; manufacturing, special economic zones and SME development; creative industries; maritime industries and tourism and leisure industries.

The Commonwealth Business Council is mandated by heads of Commonwealth governments to promote trade and investment among the 54 member countries. Dr Mohan Kaul is the director-general of the CBC and Sir Allan Fields, chairman Cable and Wireless Barbados, has been co-chairman of the CBC since 2009.

The next Commonwealth Business Forum will be held in Perth, Western Australia, in October 2011 and strong participation is expected from Australia at the CIF.