The Honourable E.V.K.S. Elangovan, Minister of State for Commerce, India; Hon. Edwin Carrington, Secretary General, CARCIOM; Fellow CARICOM Trade Ministers; Your Excellency, Virendra Gupta, High Commissioner of India to Trinidad and Tobago; Members of the Indian Delegation; Representatives of the Indian and CARICOM business communities; Members of the Media; Ladies and Gentlemen

I thank you for your invitation to declare open this First India-CARICOM Trade Exposition. I welcome all visitors to our beautiful twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago.

I understand that this exposition comprises over 200 businessmen representing more than 90 companies from India, and several of our own Caribbean enterprises.

India and the Caribbean region share a historically vital and growing economic partnership, and as we all know, long-standing cultural and societal ties. Particularly for Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, the Indian Diaspora continues to have a profoundly positive impact on the development of our two nations, making us all the more richer in the process.

The trade and investment relationship between our two regions is in a growth stage. However, there has been significant developments on the cultural and educational side of our relationship, which holds historical significance in the shaping of our lives.

Ladies and gentlemen, this Exposition provides a forum for further promotion of trade and investment linkages between businesses in the Caribbean and India. It is an avenue for networking, forging joint venture relationships, information exchange about markets and strategic marketing, and communication between relevant organizations and institutions of both regions. I urge you to take this opportunity to develop a stronger sense of conducting business in the Caribbean, and to view the Caribbean as a prime location for investment from India.

I also to extend my heart-felt thanks, on behalf of CARICOM, to the Government of India, the High Commissioner for India in Trinidad and Tobago and the staff of the CARICOM Secretariat for the tremendous amount of preparation and hard work which has been undertaken to ensure the success of this venture. India and CARICOM share a promising future, and we move forward with confidence to continue nurturing and strengthening the links that will be established at this forum. I wish the Exposition all success.

I Thank You.