Summit (TT) Luggage Co Ltd, headquartered in Guangdong, China, is the first tenant at eTecK’s Phoenix Park Industrial Estate.
The company will establish a manufacturing assembly line to produce 90 per cent hard-shell luggage using polycarbonate and polypropylene inputs, a statement from InvesTT said.
It will export its products mainly to North American and European corporate clients which include brand names in the luggage and retail industries.
The statement said company officials Michael Chen and Sera Huang arrived in T&T on February 3, 2023, to provide direct oversight of the customisation and completion of the 5,000 square metre factory shell.
Chen, the factory manager, said this country was chosen primarily for its location and easy reach to its US clients.
“The benefits for us are that shipments from here will take about one week in quick turnaround in addition to the fact that it will be easier for clients sharing the same time zone to visit our T&T factory for audits as they are close by,” he added.
Chen also noted that many Chinese companies are moving their factories overseas.
Sekou Alleyne, president of InvesTT said the move highlights the increasing global investor confidence in the country as a manufacturing and exporting hub in the Caribbean.
“We have a huge investment advantage in nearshore manufacturing because of our geographic location between the Americas, alongside the easy access to consumers provided via our international cargo ports and trade agreements,” he added.
Summit Luggage was founded in 2001 and is one of the leading luggage enterprises in China with approximately 1,200 workers.
Their annual output is up to three million pieces of luggage and bags which are currently being sold in more than 80 countries.
The company’s plans for expansion in T&T include greater industrial space and the application of plastic injection technology for luggage component manufacturing.
InvesTT’s Investor Services team has been working with Summit (TT) Luggage to assist with work permits, access to incentives, regulatory agency permits and post-construction approvals.