Opportunities for TT entrepreneurs in India: HC

INDIA's High Commissioner to TT Arun Kumar Sahu says there are tremendous business opportunities for local entrepreneurs in India.

Sahu pointed to specific areas including tourism, information technology, agriculture, renewable energy, food processing, textiles, bio-technology, medicine and automobile manufacturing.

He also alluded to the many scholarships being offered annually from first degrees to doctorates,  and encouraged nationals to take up the offer to go to India.

Opportunities available out of India for local businesses were explored during a webinar with the Arima Business Association, Greater Tunapuna Chamber, San Juan Business Association and the Supermarkets Association,last week.

Sahu said before the pandemic some initiatives were explored but with the new emerging reality innovative ways of doing business in a virtual world must now be considered.

He said the office of the High Commissioner is ready to facilitate local entrepreneurs as many Indian industries are looking towards TT and the rest of the Caribbean as a hub for establishing IT centres, pharmaceutical and other industries.

He noted the contribution of India as a major supplier of pharmaceuticals to the rest of the world during this pandemic and felt it was time TT got into the act to explore pharmaceutical manufacturing.

He said with TT being one of the biggest economy in the region, it has to think how it can utilise its geographical presence to do business with other companies around the world, particularly with Indian businesses which stand for quality and have the lowest prices.

Sahu also saw potential for companies in the renewable energy sector as well as viable economic possibilities in setting up desalination plants.

He said he would be very keen if companies here were interested in agriculture, food processing and bio-technology.

Sahu is also looking at collaboration between Indian research institutes and UWI, which he promised to explore when covid19 measures ease up.

On tourism, Sahu said there was enormous potential and encouraged entrepreneurs to consider sector-specific tourism such as medical, religious, sport, adventure and wellness tourism.

In terms of religion, he said although India is the bedrock of Hinduism, some of the oldest churches exist  there, along with the most divine Islamic structures and Buddhist corners.

Sahu said he has also been encouraging people to visit TT and the rest of the Caribbean.

“There is immense potential for anybody who is interested in sport tourism. Cricket is a big thing, but it remains confined only to the IPL and CPL and Test matches.”

He said India provides the best training at its national and private academies for children under 16 and 19, recalling shortly after his arrival in Trinidad, two girls, one under 16, were sent to one such academy and had a lifetime experience in cricket.

“That is the future of West Indian cricket.”