More industrial estates coming

THE PROPERTY and Industrial Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (PIDCOTT) has been mandated to establish new industrial estates throughout the country, according to Minister of State in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Diane Seukeran. She announced this yesterday in the feature address at a rededication ceremony for the Plaisance Park Industrial Estate in Pointe-a-Pierre. Seukeran said her Ministry’s main focus was trade expansion and investment.

“We recognise that trade expands in surroundings facilitative to and conducive to worker health and safety, and ease of business conduct and investment comes to an attractive destination,” she said. Seukeran said PIDCOTT would be placing emphasis on improving conditions at industrial estates and expanding existing facilities, and the company will play an important part in the establishing of the Wallerfield Estate, which will house the new technical university and the union estate for the proposed Aluminum Smelter. “What exists now is a coming together of the Ministry and PIDCOTT that will benefit the country and all of its investors, with the ultimate objective on national development,” Seukeran said.

She also said PIDCOTT has undertaken to work with residents near to its facilities so that there is a harmonious blend of interests. “It will partner with the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the Community Based Organisations (CBOs) in the vicinity of industrial estates to empower them and facilitate their interests,” Seukeran said. She added that Plaisance Park, which has an active tenants association, is already benefitting from the new, refocused PIDCOTT. “The effort at Plaisance Park is a manifestation of the refocus of Government itself which is determined to emphasise infrastructural development as having two equal components. Too often we simply put in infrastructure but we are now determined on equal emphasis for quality infrastructure at best prices and consistent quality maintenance,” Seukeran said.