The Ministry of Trade and Industry launched the commencement of an Agro-Processing and Light Industrial Park in Moruga at a community function held at St. Mary’s Government Primary School, Moruga on Wednesday 17th May, 2017. Evolving Tecknologies and Enterprise Development Company Limited (e TecK) which operates under the purview of the Ministry of Trade and Industry will fulfil its mandate in developing and managing this new industrial park or economic zone in Moruga. e TecK will be collaborating with Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDECOTT) to develop this facility and e TecK’s role will be the project manager and facilitator for the successful execution of this project.
L-R Mr. Imtiaz Ahamad-Chairman, e TecK; Senator the Honourable Clarence Rambharat – Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries; Senator, the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon – Minister of Trade and Industry; Senator the Honourable Kazim Hosein, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government; Dr. The Honourable Lovell Francis, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Member of Parliament for Moruga/Tableland and Senator the Honourable Avinaash G. Singh – Parliament Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture , Land and Fisheries
Key note speakers at the event dubbed “Development Initiatives in Moruga” included Senator the Honourable Clarence Rambharat, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries; Senator the Honourable Kazim Hosein, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government; Senator, the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Ministry of Trade and Industry; Dr. The Honourable Lovell Francis, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Member of Parliament for Moruga/Tableland who all spoke of their ministries’ development plans for Moruga.
In his welcome address, e TecK’s Chairman, Mr. Imtiaz Ahamad stated, “e TecK is committed to government’s development initiatives in Moruga and is very proud to add yet another Park in the South region. Two new parks were recently developed and commissioned in South which are Debe and Pt. Fortin Business Parks which increased the number of tenants to fifteen, to the already 320 tenants, operating at the company’s nineteen business parks throughout Trinidad and Tobago. Our parks make a significant contribution to Trinidad and Tobago’s diversification of the economy since they provide spaces for non-energy businesses to grow and prosper.”
This project is expected to facilitate economic growth and the development of environmentally-sustainable local, regional and international businesses, engaged in downstream activities in the agricultural sector. It is also envisioned that it will facilitate further development of the community and the creation of world class entrepreneurs.
“The development of this Agro-Processing and Light Industrial Park underscores our commitment to the provision of an enabling economic environment for our investors and the generation of real and sustainable developmental opportunities for the Moruga community,” said Minister Gopee-Scoon. She continued “The Agro-processing and Light Industrial Park will be built on 18.83 acres of State land situated in Saunders Trace, and will initially house five (5) factory shells. The Park will be sub-divided into eighteen (18) plots of varying sizes, comprising small lots at 2000m2 to 3000m2, medium lots at 3,500m2 to 4,500m2 and large lots at 5,000m2 to 7,500m2 and therefore business of all sizes will be accommodated and equipped with all required infrastructure.”
The facility will allow for:
- The processing of raw materials and intermediate products that originate from agriculture, forestry and fisheries, including the preservation of meats, fish, fruit and vegetables;
- The manufacture of food products and the conversion of fresh produce into semi-processed raw material or processed products, including the manufacture of bakery products, pasta products, confectionary and starch products;
- The manufacture of beverages, wine and the blending of spirits; and
- Facilities for the canning, bottling and freezing of finished products.
The project will take shape at different stages over the next twenty-six months and the infrastructural amenities that will be provided will include:
- Access roads;
- Main and connector roads throughout the entire acreage;
- Water supply pipelines and distribution lines;
- Adequate drainage and associated works;
- Appropriate sewerage and waste treatment facilities;
- Electrical supply, optimizing on the location of the nearby gas line;
- Access to telecommunication facilities necessary for business; and
- An Administrative building.
