TT, China explore agriculture partnership

This was one of several issues discussed between Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis and Chinese Ambassador to TT Song Yumin, when Yumin paid a courtesy call on Robinson-Regis at the Eric Williams Financial Complex in Port of Spain last week.

In a statement, the Planning Ministry said there was a project between the University of the West Indies and the China Agriculture University aimed at finding ways to increase domestic agricultural productivity and reduce TT’s food import bill.

Robinson-Regis said a cooperative arrangement with China would be a great learning opportunity for TT in terms of industrial and technological development.

China’s history with TT has also involved the health care sector, agriculture and technical cooperation.

Dry docking and the development of industrial parks in TT are some of the areas already being examined by China’s Exim bank to assess funding possibilities.

Robinson-Regis raised interest in China collaborating on development projects involving Tobago as well as environmental support for TT as a small-island developing state.