InvesTT at Agri-Investment Forum & Expo II

InvesTT at Agri-Investment Forum & Expo II

InvesTT was pleased for the opportunity to extend its expert services in investment promotion to businesses at the recently concluded Agri-Investment Forum and Expo II 2022 (19th – 21st August). The Agency participated with a physical presence over the three days of the Expo and collaborated with exporTT to facilitate pre-scheduled match-making business meetings between entrepreneurs and investors seeking agri-business opportunities. 

Vast potential for the development of a sustainable local agro-processing industry

According to InvesTT’s President, Sekou Alleyne, “The Agri-Investment Forum & Expo emphasized the vast potential for the development of a sustainable local agro-processing and agriculture industry with the added scope for foreign revenue generation.” He added that with the support of the right investment and facilitation, local, small and medium enterprises can secure a path to upscaling their production and export capacity as well as provide more employment opportunities. Both objectives are goals that fall under InvesTT’s mandate as a state agency. “To merge the opportunity the Forum presented with our objectives, we sought to match projects with existing businesses desirous of investing in the Agri-Tech/ Agro-processing industries,” said Alleyne.

InvesTT's Vice President of Investments, Pramilla Ramdahani (right), and Melissa Arnaud - Senior Aftercare Officer (centre) speak with an interested visitor to InvesTT's booth at the Expo.

Promotion of agri project proposals

The investment promotion agency issued a call for project proposals across print and social media channels to entrepreneurs in the Agro-processing sector seeking partners to support their growth and business development needs. A total of 43 project proposals were received by the Agency. After a review and selection process that included telephone interviews and site visits to access operations, where applicable, a shortlist of viable projects was prepared for Business to Business (B2B) meetings with interested investors. Other projects were promoted at InvesTT’s Expo booth and included ventures in edible and medicinal mushroom farming, greenhouse projects for artisan lettuce, hydroponics, aquaponics, fully automated greenhouse, animal feed production, root flour production, production of mulch and training programs in agro-processing. 

Agro-Expo-proposals-small.pdf (Download)

4 land lots and 2 factory shells are available for lease (as at Aug. 2022)

Commercial space available

Leasable commercial space available at e TecK’s Moruga Agro-processing and Light Industrial Park was also high among InvesTT’s opportunities promoted at the Expo. There was general enthusiasm about the commercial opportunity with the added exposure gained during a seminar hosted by InvesTT’s Vice President, Investor Services – Stacy Adams - on the third day of the Expo.

Alleyne indicated that “the Forum presented an excellent avenue to showcase the benefits of tenanting the Moruga Park. It is a space designed to support the operations and requirements of agro-processors.” Currently, there are 4 land lots and 2 factory shells left that are available for lease at the park while the others are allotted to secured tenants at various stages of preparation to occupy their spaces. 

Coming out of the B2B meetings held at the forum, InvesTT anticipates further discussions and meetings to facilitate the development of identified investment opportunities.

For more information on agro-processing opportunities, please send us your email via info@investt.co.tt