Caribbean, Chinese talk business in New York

KINGSTON, Jamaica - As Caribbean governments seek new investors, the Chinese are urging them to capitalise on a business development and investment promotion trip to China coming up this fall. The offer, which was made at the Avalon Invest Caribbean Now Forum last Wednesday in New York comes days after China's president, Xi Jinping offered concessionary loans to nine Caribbean countries totalling US$3 billion. "The Chinese private sectors are seeking opportunities in the Caribbean such as hospitality, real estate, health care and education industry, because they are easy to operate, are transparent and create jobs," said Li Li, managing director of the Chinese American Business Development Center, to a packed room that included two premiers, seven tourism ministers, high commissioners and hoteliers, at the Radisson Martinique in mid-town Manhattan.