Opening skyway and trade links

Huge potential for Chinese investment

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Communications links are also becoming increasingly important for the country and the Civil Aviation Authority, CAA for short, is playing a vital role in this area. Responsible for air navigation services not only at home, but also in an area of 750,000 square miles that stretches across the Atlantic known as the the Piarco Flight Information Region, the CAA works to provide excellent air transport links, including helicopter operations that support the extensive offshore oil and gas operations.

It is also the principal provider of aviation training in the region, as Director General Ramesh Lutchmedial explained.

"The Civil Aviation Training Center began as an air traffic control training center 50 years ago as a UN development project. We then began to expand our curriculum to include safety and security management and disaster preparedness programs, and are now in the process of offering masters postgraduate programs and innovation management.

"China is becoming an aviation giant in its own right and therefore as we are open to partnerships that will help us develop our own local industry. Meanwhile, Trevor Benjamin, chairman of the T & T Airport Authority, explained the changes going on in his area.

"The authority's North Aviation Business Park is a major initiative that is consistent with the government's diversification strategy. The park is a mixed-use business park. The first phase occupies 168 acres adjacent to the North Terminal of the Piarco International Airport.

"The park will include a free trade zone and land earmarked for a broad range of activities. Since at its closest point Trinidad is located a mere six miles away from the South American coastline, this park will represent an excellent location for Chinese companies interested in exporting their products and services into Latin America and the Caribbean," he said.

"We have three potential cooperation areas with China: one is with regard to developing air cargo links between our two countries, the second is with respect to establishing facilities in Trinidad for aircraft maintenance, repairs and overhaul services and the third is with respect to developing air service links between Chinese airlines and Trinidad and Tobago."

InFocus provided the story

(China Daily 02/24/2014 page19)