APEX – Visit to Trinidad and Tobago

    In May 2024,  Vice President of the China Building Materials Federation and Chairman of Apex Group Hong Kong, alongside CEO Mr. Jiang Tao, Vice Chairman Mr. Shang Yang, and General Manager of the International Affairs Department Mr. Teng Zhang, and other senior executives from the company, visited Trinidad and Tobago for a meeting with relevant personnel from the China Building Materials Market Association.

    The team members met Senator the Honorable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry, and Sekou Alleyne, President of the national investment promotion agency, InvesTT, in Trinidad and Tobago. The Chinese side aims to deepen cooperation between China and Trinidad and Tobago in the field of building materials, explore new opportunities for industry development, and promote investment by Chinese building materials enterprises in Trinidad and Tobago through extensive exchanges.

    Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon extended a warm welcome to the Chinese delegation and provided a detailed introduction to the history and advantages of Trinidad and Tobago's manufacturing industry, the framework of its economic zone policies, regional market integration within the Caribbean Community, and the preferential policies available to foreign investors.

    Mr. Liu Ye indicated that the association has always maintained close communication with the Investment Promotion Agency regarding investment projects and commercial cooperation opportunities and has a strong interest in the housing development project for low-income groups in Trinidad and Tobago. The association hopes to use this project as an opportunity to establish a building materials distribution center or factory in the Phoenix Industrial Park, which would not only meet the needs of the Caribbean market but also help to further deepen economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

    Subsequently, the delegation conducted a field visit to the Phoenix Industrial Park, the first project to be implemented in the Caribbean as part of the Belt and Road Initiative. The delegation gained insights into the enterprises within the park, the industrial layout, and future development plans. They highly praised the achievements in park construction and successful investment promotion and expressed their intention to actively encourage member companies to enter the Phoenix Industrial Park and explore the Latin American market.