TIC taps biz to biz

The aroma of strong spices exuding from the Karibbean Flavours booth set up at the recently completed Seventh Annual Trade and Investment Show was all it took to draw persons from the Kamperveen Hall entrance at the Centre of Excellence.

With their wide array of mauby, garlic sauce, chutney, pepper sauces and vinegar, the company responsible for distributing the spices, RHS Marketing Limited, truly represented manufacturing at its absolute best.

Established in 1994, the company began manufacturing only pepper sauces and seasonings to sell to Caribbean islands and, as the years went by, expanded its products to include mauby, chutney and garlic sauce.

According to Marketing Director, Ravi Sankar, the name Karibbean Flavours was chosen for the brand of sauces, because the company needed a name that would not only represent Trinidad but the Caribbean.

RHS now exports its products to St Vincent, Dominica, Antigua, Tortola, St Thomas, Suriname, Guyana, Belize, New York, England and Canada.

Locally, the products are distributed at all major supermarkets chains and some restaurants and hotels.

“Every one of our products appeals to costumers because of the attractive labelling, quality and, of course, the mouth-watering local taste,” Sankar boasted.

He added that only local herbs and spices are use to manufacture the line of products.

RHS was just one of about 200 businesses present at this year’s five-day Trade and Investment Convention (TIC). Just across from them is an exquisite bathroom setting arranged by Elegant Bathrooms Limited. Almost like a mini store, the booth provided onlookers with a taste of what they can expect to find at the actual store which is located on Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook. From their artistically designed sinks, faucets and washroom accessories, the company guarantees the one thing their name implies — elegance.

There were even exhibitors who took the opportunity to promote new services and special offers. Green Dot Limited, whose promise it is to make the internet easier to use and to provide high speed internet access, was among them. They wooed customers by offering free internet access for one year. Their Wide Area Network (WAN) rates started as low as $450 per month; business internet rates at $50 per month and residential internet rates starting at $275 per month.

“We plan to take over the internet provider market by storm and that is part of the reason we are here, to let the public know that we stand out,” declared Barry Hernandez, Senior Sales Consultant.

Small business owners under National Entrepreneurship Development Company (NEDCO) also made their presence felt at the convention with items like hand-crafted leather shoes and handbags, batik, fresh juices and hand-made aroma therapy soaps and creams.

Other exhibitors included Costa Rica-based company, Leeder Group Inc, manufacturers of orthotics and home care products used in the treatment of conditions associated with traumatic injuries, chronic disease and immobility, was looking for a niche.

A representative of the company said he saw the convention as an avenue to promote the Leeder Group and to further expand its markets.

“This is a great opportunity to also meet businesses from all over the world,” he said and expressed the hope to return next year.

Also out in full force were other local manufacturers, including Trinrico Steel and Wire Products Limited, Embroidery and Monogram Company (EMC), manufacturers of commercial items, pens, bags and cups, KC Confectionery Limited, Misons Industries Limited as well as Label House Group, the House of Paper Products Limited, and Chief Brand Products.

Corporate entities were also on hand to provide information to customers — RBTT, Home Construction Limited (HCL), CLICO, Tourism Development Company, the TT Bureau of Standards, FCB, Digicel, Bmobile and Suzuki Life Style Motors.

Described as the Caribbean’s largest business to business event, TIC was attended by manufacturers, suppliers, exporters, buyers, distributors, service providers, regulatory services, financial institutions and investors from over 25 countries.

These included Austria, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, England, Jamaica, The European Union, Guadeloupe, The Kingdom of the Netherlands, Martinique, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and the USA.

The convention was hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and RBTT. Besides the trade there were other events such as a business education programme and several networking agents.

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturer’s Association, unlike previous years, this year’s show incorporated a business-to-consumer dimension, which allowed the general public and business people to interact with consumers.

Anthony Aboud, TIC Chairman, during the formal opening of the convention noted a significant increase in the number of participants this year — from 100 to over 200.

“The purpose of the convention is to encourage and facilitate two-way trade and we brought together exhibitors offering top class, competitively priced goods and services and buyers seeking new products for their market,” he said.