Trinidad and Tobago will be opening its first embassy in the Middle East, in the United Arab Emirates.
Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Sean Sobers confirmed this in the House of Representatives this afternoon as he outlined the outcomes of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC’s visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, where she held bilateral meetings with several heads of delegation.
“Trinidad and Tobago also continued to attract international donor financing as a direct result of the Honourable Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s diplomatic outreach by obtaining a commitment for a major grant from the Government of the United Arab Emirates for critical equipment for the Couva Children’s Hospital. And I have the permission from the Cabinet and the Prime Minister to indicate that Trinidad and Tobago will, for the very first time, open an embassy in the United Arab Emirates, being the first embassy in the Middle East.”
Minister Sobers also told the House about a new strategic partnership with Venezuela, covering areas including trade, energy, security, disaster-risk management, agriculture, tourism and environmental protection.
“The expanded and more holistic approach in engaging with the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela will, for the first time, unlock the potential for a burgeoning of trade in energy and non-energy products with Trinidad and Tobago for the mutual prosperity of both countries, which will strengthen manufacturers and lower the food import bill locally.”
He further revealed that a major investment mission featuring representatives from top US financial institutions will visit Trinidad and Tobago later this year, following engagements in New York’s financial district led by Member of Parliament for Mayaro and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Nicholas Morris.