No VAT on film equipment

Addressing an Indian Arrival Day dinner hosted by the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CCIC), Roach said Trinidad and Tobago is the second best location to produce a film in this region, after Colombia.

“Trade in services is also an area of growing importance for building economic bridges between Trinidad and Tobago and India. We see mutually beneficial avenues in the creative industries, which is a sector prioritized for our economic diversification thrust” she said, adding that one potential market opportunity lay in co-operating with the Indian film industry, which produces roughly 1,000 movies a year. To give an idea of how vibrant Bollywoodwas, she said, approximately three billion cinema tickets were sold in India every year, compared to 1.5 billion in the United States.

Roach brought greetings on behalf of Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry. who is part of the Prime Minister’s delegation to Chile on an official visit.

She said the theme of “Empowering Communities, Empowering Nations” was timely and relevant.

Just last month, Minister Gopee- Scoon had successful discussions with the Minister of State for External Affairs of India, General Vijay Kumar Singh, on deepening bilateral trade and strengthening investment ties,” she said, adding that bilateral trade was robust, with exports to India steadily increasing and totalling $1.04 billion in 2016. The large majority of local exports to India comprised energy products, she said, specifically liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Roach said the annual celebration of Indian Arrival Day in T&T gave the opportunity to reflect on the journey in 1845 of the first group of people from India to work on sugar estates in search of a better life for themselves and their families.

“The trials and tribulations endured by our East Indian ancestors gave rise to progress and achievements over the years in the fields of business, science, literature, politics, and the arts.

These achievements by many distinguished men and women of our nation are testament to that indomitable spirit which resides within each individual and which, generations later, continues to inspire us all. Their social, economic, cultural and religious contribution has enriched their communities and the wider nation, for which we are indebted” she said. In closing, she acknowledged the invaluable contribution made by the indentured labourers and their descendants to the vibrant socio-economic tapestry of T&T.

Indian High Commissioner Bishwadip Dey, who was the guest of honour, said he admired the unity in diversity in this country.

“When you see a queue at the doubles vendor, you see a combination of people from different backgrounds,” he said, adding that it was the same when one heard chutney or soca. He said in the year he has been here he had been constantly amazed at the growth and development of Indian culture, as so many radio stations played Bollywood music, and although people did not understand the language, they enjoyed the rhythm, saying this went to show that their umbilical cords were buried in India and no matter how far you went, you still remembered that land. He urged people to learn Hindi as it would provide them with better understanding of music and songs.

He also said he was now involved in a project to provide books about India to local schools. “This will help students to better understand India and the stories from this country, which has the oldest civilization,” he said. MPs at the event included Ganga Singh, Ramona Ramdial and Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie. President of the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce Vishnu Charan also spoke on the importance of Indian Arrival Day. Entertainment was provided by Premchand Basdeo and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Dance.