BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 12TH 2013 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas says his recent visit to the Republic of China (Taiwan) will lead not only lead to the consolidation of the relationship, but result in attracting manufacturing plants.
“It would help us to advance to a new dynamic level. The visit gave us the opportunity firstly to meet with the President and the group of ministers whom are critical in assisting us in the transformation of our country and the economy,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
A Taiwanese company, SpeedTech, recently established a solar panel manufacturing plant on the C.A. Paul Southwell Industrial Complex in St. Kitts and Prime Minister Douglas is of the view that if St. Kitts and Nevis is going to advance to become the first sustainable island state and attain a green economy, “it is going to be the central basis on which we would proceed.”
“It means therefore looking at all of the planks that make up our economy today – tourism and hospitality services and manufacturing – we spoke to the business community in Taiwan,” said Dr. Douglas, who noted that while overnighting in Miami enroute to Taipei, he and his delegation met with the President of the Taiwanese business community in Florida.
“We had some formal discussions as to what our mission must entail so that by the time we got into Taiwan, we were able to address a group of over 50 businessmen, basically letting them know what the new St. Kitts and Nevis is projected to be,” said the Prime Minister.
Two members of the delegation from the local business and manufacturing sector were Mr. Carol Evelyn, Manager of Harowe Control and Mr. Linkon Maynard, Vice chairman of the Manufacuring Division of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
“They were able to make presentations to the business community in Taiwan outlining the environment for doing business here in St. Kitts and Nevis, in partnering with the government, government-owned entities and the private sector and inviting business people to come to St. Kitts and Nevis to invest from Taiwan,” said Dr. Douglas.
He said a major effort was to woo new manufacturing plants in light of increasing manufacturing output and production and thus enter the Brazilian market as St. Kitts and Nevis is in the final stages in completing the Partial Scope Agreement.