In keeping with the Government’s mandate to diversify the economy and to provide economic spaces for businesses to grow, the Ministry of Trade and Industry through Evolving TecKnologies and Enterprise Development Company Limited (e TecK) has commenced the development of an Agro-Processing and Light Industrial Park in Moruga in collaboration with Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (UDeCOTT). The sod turning ceremony was held on Wednesday 9th May, 2018 at Saunders Trace, Moruga and e TecK’s line Minister the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI); Senator the Honourable, Clarence Rhambahrat, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries; Dr. the Honourable Lovell Francis, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Member of Parliament for Moruga/Tableland; Mr. Imtiaz Ahamad, Chairman, e TecK and Mr. Noel Garcia, Chairman of UDECOTT were all present to turn the sod.
Once completed, the 18.83 acres facility, e TecK first Agro-Processing Park will feature facilities for the processing of raw materials and intermediate products within the sectors of agriculture and fisheries as well as it provide business facilitation services to individuals, start-ups and established companies within the Agro-processing sector.
The development of this new Economic Zone in Moruga is in keeping with e TecK’s strategic initiative “Real Estate Asset Development”. In May 2017, e TecK together with the MTI shared the findings of a Feasibility Study which was conducted for the park, at its first stakeholder engagement meeting. After which, the Master Plan for the Park was rolled out at a second Stakeholder Engagement meeting held in November 2017.
Mr. Ahamad in his remarks stated, “There is a great opportunity for the agricultural sector to flourish in Moruga which has a long tradition of diverse agricultural commodity production. Some of the initial benefits of the park are seen as convenience, cost savings and sustainable employment to farmers and the community at large.”