Antigua Garners Attention at Caribbean Forum

Details

Economy

Saturday, 26 May 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St John's - Chairman of the Antigua & Barbuda Investment Authority (ABIA) Dr McChesney Emmanuel is following up on solid leads coming out the Caribbean Investment Forum, held in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad on May 14 and 15.

Dr Emmanuel attended the forum, which brought together ministers of government and heads of state agencies from the Caribbean and Latin America with hundreds of business people.

The focus, CIF organisers said, was to foster dialogue on new and innovative business and investment prospects at the micro and macro levels, as well as networking opportunities.

Dr Emmanuel said his message at CIF and at the subsequent Trade and Investment Convention, from May 16 to 19, was that “Antigua & Barbuda is open for business."

“We were able to engage many businesses, presenting the incentives offered by the Antigua & Barbuda Investment Authority, and we also held solid discussions about specific sectors,” Dr Emmanuel said.

Those discussions included business opportunities in agriculture, namely agro-processing, medical tourism, and the country’s ability to take on outsourcing projects.  

“Our talks concerning healthcare included collaboration with a facility in Trinidad with the OECS Cancer Centre when it is completed," he said. "In the other investment sectors, there was definite interest and commitment on both sides to pursuing further talks. We are buoyed by, not just the prospects, but the way these discussions have progressed so far.

“We are already in an active follow-up mode, and we are confident that we will realize success from our strategy of promoting Antigua and Barbuda as a highly competitive business destination,” Dr Emmanuel said.

Speakers at CIF included Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago, Panamanian president, Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal, Alberto Alemán Zubieta, CEO of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and Ronald Ramjattan, CEO and founder of Baron Foods Ltd, a regional leader in the processed food industry.

Executive Director of the ABIA Lestroy Samuel also gave a presentation on his role as President of the Caribbean Association of Investment Agencies (CAIPA).

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