Chinese and Bahamian businesspersons today explored potential investment opportunities that exist between the two countries in a meeting at the Nassau Beach Hotel designed to strengthen the existing relationship between the nations and open new avenues for business development.
A number of businesspersons from a broad range of sectors, including tourism, financial services, furniture manufacture, communications, souvenir, agriculture and food processing, exchanged ideas on how to establish opportunities with Chinese entrepreneurs interested in establishing businesses in The Bahamas.
Twelve Chinese business executives travelling with State Councillor of the People’s Republic of China attended the meeting.
General Manager of The Bahamas Agriculture and Industrial Corporation Luther Smith said the purpose of the meeting was to stimulate bi-lateral trade and investment between China and The Bahamas.
“They are looking at The Bahamas as a potential market for exports, and for our part we are looking at China as a market from which we can achieve some investments,” Mr. Smith said.
Two areas of particular interest to Bahamian businesspersons, Mr. Smith said, are souvenir manufacturing and agriculture.
The Bahamas, a leading tourist destination in the region, uses large amounts of souvenirs that can be manufactured locally and sold to tourists Mr. Smith said. He added that BAIC is interested in establishing links with Chinese manufacturers that would facilitate the local manufacture of souvenirs.
Officials also hope that they would be able to strengthen agricultural links with the People’s Republic of China.
The talks are preliminary and exploratory, Mr Smith said
The delegation was expected to visit the Mall at Marathon this afternoon to observe business operations in a variety of companies.
By Darrin Culmer, The Bahama Journal
