Gopee-Scoon: TT the place to do business

“With Trinidad and Tobago now being part of your global network of business centres, we can look forward to businesses that are a part of the Regus international network utilizing the centre at Invaders Bay and seeing Trinidad and Tobago as the opportunity that it is.” Noting the Government will continue to make all effort to create an enabling environment to allow for new and existing businesses to flourish, Senator Gopee-Scoon announced that the Cabinet has before it a comprehensive implementation plan that will holistically address and significantly improve the domestic business and investment climate.

She stated that “the Plan was developed in collaboration with several Ministries and Government Agencies and is expected to be implemented over a 44 month period, achieving major deliverables every six months. It includes a series of administrative and legislative reforms which address several areas pertinent to business operations, such as trading across borders; paying taxes; starting a business; registering property; electronic payments; dealing with construction permits; resolving insolvency and getting credit.” Additionally, Gopee- Scoon informed the audience that an analysis of the existing free zones regime was currently being undertaken and the Government has agreed to the development of a Special Economic Zones Policy.

She said “this Policy will “modernize Trinidad and Tobago’s economic/free zone regime; increase the economic and social impact of economic zones in Trinidad and Tobago; enhance the international appeal of Trinidad and Tobago’s economic zone regime; and improve existing and advance new mechanisms and procedures to effectively develop and manage economic zones”.

She also affirmed that TT will continue to be attractive to investors due to its easy access to the Americas; strategic location as a transshipment hub for exports; preferential access to the markets of CARICOM and other regional and international markets through trade agreements with the United States of America, Canada and the European Union; low cost energy; and access to generous fiscal incentives, among other attributes.

Mark Linehan, Managing Director, Regus Franchise Partner Caribbean in his Address expressed pleasure in opening its first Regus Business Centre in Trinidad and Tobago.

He said “we are excited to bring our cutting edge work space solutions to Trinidad which is fitted with the latest technology to meet the needs of small, medium and large businesses. There is tremendous potential for Regus in Trinidad and Tobago.” Regus Business Centre offers office space, meeting rooms, co-working facilities and a business lounge to suit the needs of small, medium and large businesses.