Annual trade generates more than US$500m—Aboud

Anthony Aboud, chairman of the Trade and Investment Convention (TIC), estimates more than US$500 million has been generated over the last 11 years as a result of the annual trade event. “The convention is a success story with a tradition of growth and real business success. We estimate that TIC has facilitated over $0.5 billion in trade over the past 11 years. That’s just over US$450 million,” he said. He was speaking at yesterday’s launch of the Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s. The CIF will take place from June 13-14 and is the first part of the T&T Investment Week 2011.

Participants at the CIF will move directly into the second part of the T&T Investment Week, which is the annual TIC show that takes place from June 15 to June 18 at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad hotel, Port-of-Spain. This year is the 12th anniversary of the TIC. “This will generate high level business opportunity that is unprecedented in this country’s history. The TIC will see an increase in the number of investors and businesses here in search of new commercial opportunities. The benefits for this endeavour are many. 

“It is the best example of a working partnership between the public and private sectors. The success of partnership brings together, Government, private sector and commercial sponsors, like First Citizens bank, TSTT and the Government through the Ministry of Trade, and is one reasons why TIC grows every year from strength to strength,” he said. Aboud said hundreds of international buyers from 36 countries will be attending TIC 2011.

“Our job is to connect buyers and sellers and create new business partnerships. We showcase a wide, high quality, competitively-priced range of goods and services from all sectors for the Caribbean. TIC now attracts hundreds of international buyers. Among those countries that are attending are Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Spain, Panama, United Kingdom, the Dominican Republic, Canada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, South Africa, the United States, and many more,” he said. “The Caribbean Investment Forum and the creation of a trade and investment week takes how TIC operates to whole new level. We want a better T&T and a more diversified T&T. We share the vision of our prime minister and Government,” Aboud said.