The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) is in discussions with the government to establish a National Energy Skills Centre (NESC) in the country.
The centre is expected to serve as a skills development hub for locals who would want to acquire knowledge in petrochemicals and the energy sector in general.
The High Commissioner of T&T to Nigeria and Ghana, Mr Nyahuma Mentuhotep Obika, made this known when he delivered a speech titled, ‘South-South Coorperation: Experiences from Trinidad and Tobago,’ at a media briefing in Accra yesterday.
The ceremony was part of activities to mark the celebration of the 37th anniversary day of T&T, as well as, to educate Ghanaians through the media about the investment opportunities in T&T.
Trinidad and Tobago, which is located in the Carribean, has vast experience in the energy sector, having started commercial production of oil and gas in 1908.
Its energy sector currently accounts for 44 per cent of the total value of goods and services produced in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) – and 81 per cent of its export earnings.
The country also boasts 11 ammonia plants, seven methanol plants and four liquefied natural gas (LNG) trains, all of which are sourced from the country’s petroleum sector. Mr Obinka said, Ghana and T&T have had a long history of friendship and close political and cultural ties which he traced to the days of Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
He said the time had come to herald a new era of concrete south-south economic cultural and social linkages which should be supported by the establishment of an airline to connect the Caribbean with West Africa and Africa as a whole.
“This is the key to literally open the door to economic, social and cultural relations from across the Atlantic and reconnecting ourselves after 400 years of isolation,” he added.
Giving an insight into some of the investment opportunities in T&T, a senior economist in T&T, Mr Ronald Ramkissoon, said his country operated an open and a free-market economy where activities were centred on the processing and production of energy and petrochemical commodities for export.
He mentioned heavy and light manufacturing (blocks and cement, food, food and beverages), construction, distribution, and restaurants along with financial services as some of the areas that the country has firm grip on.
Mr Ramkissoon, therefore, called on individuals and corporate institutions in the country to look to T&T, saying “we are open for investments from Ghana and vice versa.”
Source: Graphic Business
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