Minister tells exporters to explore food market

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - The food and beverage sector can be used to diversify T&T’s economy, according to Trade, Industry and Investment Minister Vasant Bharath. In an interview, the minister said local manufacturers are either already exporting their products or are ready to export and the sector globally is a lucrative one which manufacturers should capitalise on. “It’s a very mature sector at this point in time. Many of the manufacturers are currently exporting, or have the capacity to export and its also a huge industry worldwide, a billion dollar industry worldwide, so it presents tremendous opportunity for us in T&T,” he said Bharath’s comments follow the recent participation by eight local manufacturers in the Fancy Food Show in New York. He said there is demand for T&T products internationally and manufacturers should look to capitalise on that trend.