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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Photo shows a portion of the delegation from Hubei China, on Grand Bahama to seek potential investment opportunities and promote bilateral trade. (BIS Photo/Vandyke Hepburn)
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FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – Acting Minister for Grand Bahama and Minister of State for Finance, the Hon. Michael Halkitis officially opened the Investment and Trade Mission: Hubei China to The Bahamas on Monday morning, November 30.
A large delegation of business persons from the Hubei Province of China are currently in the nation’s second city with the main objective being to see the potential Investment opportunities in The Bahamas and to promote bilateral trade.
The Chinese delegation arrived on Grand Bahama on Sunday and are scheduled to leave for New Providence Tuesday with the view of also exploring potential opportunities there.
Addressing a large audience of Bahamian and Chinese business persons and other invited guests assembled in the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Lucayan Beach and Resort, Mr. Halkitis said that given Grand Bahama’s strong industrial sector, it was not by chance that our visitors selected the island as the destination for the Investment and Trade Mission with businesses throughout The Bahamas.
“Given our close proximity to and relations with the United States of America, as well as our infrastructures and capabilities, it is incumbent upon us to collectively take advantage of this and build sustainable business relationships.
Minister of State for Finance, and Acting Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Michael Halkitis, M.P., as he officially opened the Hubei China to The Bahamas Investment and Trade Mission at the Our Lucaya Resort on Monday morning. (BIS Photo/Vandyke Hepburn)
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“This investment and trade mission provides for bilateral trade and expansion opportunities for both Hubei China and The Bahamas. We believe there are tremendous possibilities, not only for large businesses, but also for those small and medium sized businesses that may wish to explore this avenue and forge working business relations with one of the visiting entities.
“From becoming a distributor of Chinese-made products throughout The Bahamas, to possibly exporting our locally-made products throughout China and other Asian markets, to utilizing our strategic location and transshipment capabilities to become a staging ground for Hubei and Chinese products throughout this region,” Mr. Halkitis said.
He was also keen on pointing out that with the impending opening of the new Panama Canal, and with the Container Port facility on Grand Bahama being one of the largest on the Eastern Seaboard, and with expansions currently underway, this island will have the potential to attract and accommodate the largest of the cargo ships.
“This is significant as it will position Grand Bahama Island as a major transshipment hub, even more so than now.
“This is indicative of the phrase ‘endless possibilities’ that we have been using as a mantra for this event. We believe that this is an historic initiative, and that possibilities for opportunity exist for businesses of all sizes,” The Minister said.
A Cooperative Agreement was signed Monday between Hubei China and the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce. Signing for the Chinese group was Ms. Zhou Caijuan, Chairwoman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Hubei Sub-Council, while Mr. Kevin Seymour, President, signed on behalf of the GB Chamber of Commerce. Witnessing the signing left to right standing are: His Excellency Yuan Guisen, Ambassador to The Bahamas, People’s Republic of China; Mr. Xiao Xuming, Vice-Chairman of Hubei Provincial Political Consultative Conference; Hon. Michael Halkitis, M.P., Minister of State for Finance; Senator the Hon. Julian Russell; and Ms. Ginger Moxey, President and CEO, Immerse Bahamas Co. Ltd. (BIS Photo/Vandyke Hepburn)
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He told his audience to imagine for example a Sands Beer on the dinner table in a restaurant somewhere in Bejing, or in a Chinese home; or the craft artisan exporting her jewelry or her hand made bags to China; The Switcha-man in Nassau may very well buy his bottles from the Chinese supplier and in turn export his Bahamian-style lemonade to China.
“When innovation and determination sit at the table of negotiation, endless opportunities avail themselves.
“I encourage all business owners, both local and those visiting from the Hubei province, to seize the endless possibilities that are available,” the Acting Minister for Grand Bahama said.
While in Grand Bahama, the Chinese delegation will tour a number of businesses inclusive of the Grand Bahama Power Company, PharmaChem, BORCO, Freeport Harbour Company, Bahamian Brewery, Grand Bahama Shipyard, Freeport Container Port and more.
A high point of Monday’s meeting was the signing of a Cooperative Agreement between Hubei China and the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce.
Monday’s opening sessions also included remarks by His Excellency Yuan Guisen, Ambassador to The Bahamas, People’s Republic of China; and Mr. Xiao Xuming, Vice-Chairman of Hubei Provincial Political Consultative Conference. They both touched on the close relationship that exists between The Bahamas and China and that The Bahamas is an ideal place to do business.
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