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Shen Shiwei: Practical programs for China-Trinidad and Tobago ties
发布时间:2018年05月17日  来源:CGTN  作者:沈诗伟  阅读:91


The signing of the Belt and Road Initiative memorandum during Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s first visit to Beijing marks the first step of China and Trinidad and Tobago's move to create further practical programs in areas such as health, human resource development, and technical cooperation. 


Cooperation programs in Trinidad and Tobago


Trinidad and Tobago is at a crossroads, and China is a good partner in infrastructure improvement and technical assistance.


During Prime Minister Rowley’s trip, both sides signed agreements to enhance cooperation in medical services, which is much needed in Trinidad and Tobago.


According to the 2018 mid-year budget review released by Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Finance, there’s been a welcomed upturn in the economy in the first quarter due to the rise in gas prices and production. The country is putting in more effort to solve long-lasting social problems such as unemployment, public security, and a shortage of basic medical services.


Promoting exports is another top priority. In the first quarter of 2018, China and Trinidad and Tobago’s trade volume reached 204 million USD, up 63.7 percent year on year. It also reached 125 million USD in imports from Trinidad and Tobago, and 79.51 million USD in exports from China.


The capital’s landmark National Academy for the Performing Arts, designed and built by the Shanghai Construction Group, is widely acknowledged as one of the best architectural masterpieces in the Caribbean region. And the Chinese-aided Couva Children’s Hospital, commissioned in 2015, became the first of its kind in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. China also helped to build a training center for medical workers, and the Chinese medical team there has provided years of medical services to local people and have trained local personnel. 


Chinese investment seeking potential opportunities


Potential investment opportunities need open access to the market and larger consumption.


Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) exploration has become the pillar of the national economy, accounting for about 40 percent of GDP and 80 percent of exports. It provides much opportunity in energy development, but giant enterprises like BP and Shell have already locked in to better shares for decades. So what could be the other potential opportunities?


Agricultural development is a possible good option. Trinidad and Tobago’s 1.3 million population cannot get enough food from their own land since so many other industries are more profitable than agriculture. More than 75 percent of the food supply is imported, and trade is profitable. The first phase of the UWI/China Agricultural University (CAU) Agricultural Innovation Park (AIP) was created in Orange Grove, and was launched in October 2015.


Regional aviation, tourism, luxury hotels and cruise ships also show good potential. 


US's dominant presence remains


There has been concern in Washington over an increasing Chinese presence in Central America and the Caribbean region through commerce and investment such as the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road. Some scholars and policy makers exaggerate the magnitude of these issues, to my understanding.


The US is Trinidad and Tobago’s largest trading partner, accounting for 28 percent of its total imports and taking 48 percent of its exports. 


The US is the No.1 source of tourists visiting Trinidad and Tobago. The US provides technical assistance to Trinidad and Tobago, for example the US Customs Advisory Team under the Homeland Security works with the Ministry of Finance of Trinidad and Tobago. And the US enjoys hundreds of years of strong political, economic and cultural dominance, not only in Trinidad and Tobago, but also in the wider Caribbean and Latin America, and has a military presence and alliances in some countries.


So does the regionally integrated US really need to worry about Chinese business deals there? 


The author is a research fellow at the Charhar Institute

Source: CGTN, 2018-5-16

Original Link: 

https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d414d3145544e77457a6333566d54/share_p.html

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