00:06Shogonis has been a hive of activity when it comes to investments.
00:10In fact, it is one of the most sought-after areas to build and expand by both local and foreign
00:16investors.
00:17We recently facilitated two business process outsourcing investments in the Shogonis area,
00:23with an overall investment value of $17 million.
00:26In the pipeline, we are currently facilitating an agro-processing project worth at least $5 million.
00:40We have established specific investment goals.
00:43Our national investment target is $9 billion by May 2030.
00:48This includes all areas of Trinidad and Tobago, including and especially in Shogonis and Environs,
00:55which is one of the fastest-growing regions for commerce in the country.
01:07Shogonis and Environs can expect to see
01:10more contract opportunities for local businesses,
01:15greater use of local labor, local inputs, and greater value added,
01:20assistance to become export-ready and increase exports,
01:25including the comprehensive listing of incentives, which, as I mentioned, could be accessed online,
01:31sharing opportunities under trade agreements,
01:35which we will outline the program of activities in the upcoming months,
01:39and identifying and addressing export limitations.
01:53Over the last 10 or 12 years, we saw a 50% growth in population.
01:59We also are seeing, within the next few months, I would think,
02:03a new business in Factory Road would employ, I would assume, 300, 400 people,
02:09and that would attract maybe about 50 commercial vehicles into Shogonis,
02:14which brings us straight to one of the issues that we are facing,
02:17and that is traffic management.
02:20Without saying too much in my opening,
02:22I'll share that we wrote to the Minister of Works,
02:26asking for a discussion where some of the businessmen,
02:32some are in the audience here, some are not,
02:34who agreed to assist with the construction of the overpass,
02:40as well as anything that would assist in traffic management.
02:44Well, that's the same concern.
03:05You
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