T&T Eyes Closer Ties With France In Energy, Security And Investment
Trinidad and Tobago looks forward to deepening its bilateral relationship with France in several key areas.
The remarks were made by Minister of Public Utilities and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Barry Padarath, at the French Embassy’s Bastille Day celebrations on Tuesday.
Speaking on behalf of Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Sean Sobers, he highlighted Trinidad and Tobago’s strong ties with France and outlined plans to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
« Looking ahead, there remains considerable scope to broaden our bilateral partnership as Trinidad and Tobago repositions itself as a premier investment hub within the Caribbean and Latin America. This government remains firmly committed to fostering a business-friendly environment that encourages investment, entrepreneurship and sustainable economic growth. Against this background we look forward to expanding collaboration with France in renewable energy, maritime services, infrastructure, digital transformation, technological innovation, and it’s not in the speech, but may I also say football. »
Beyond economic cooperation, the Minister pointed to opportunities for closer collaboration on global issues.
« This commitment to empowering women also finds expression in the multilateral arena as Trinidad and Tobago prepares to take up its seat as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027 to 2028 term. We do look forward to working closely with France, a permanent member of the Council, in advancing peace and security and addressing the complex challenges confronting our international community. »
He also outlined several priorities that Trinidad and Tobago intends to champion when it takes up its non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
« Among the priorities that Trinidad and Tobago intends to champion during its tenure is the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, as we also recognise the indispensable role of women in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. We welcome the opportunity to work alongside France in advancing this important initiative while also deepening our collaboration on other shared priorities, including maritime security, climate action and sustainable development. »
The Minister also took the opportunity to congratulate Martinique, the French overseas department, on becoming an Associate Member of the Caribbean Community at the recently concluded 51st Heads of Government Meeting of CARICOM.
On a lighter note, Minister Padarath acknowledged that he is a fan of Kylian Mbappé, the captain of the French World Cup squad, as he congratulated France and Spain on their performances in the competition.
« May we say congratulations to both teams. Put your hands together for a tremendous showing at this year’s World Cup. And what more national pride can you see epitomised by both their Excellencies locked arm in arm, celebrating Bastille Day while the Spanish team moves forward and the French team will play on Saturday for third-place honours? Congratulations to both of you. »
Bastille Day is a national day of celebration in France, marking the anniversary of the fall of the Bastille, a medieval fortress in Paris, on July 14th, 1789, a pivotal moment in the French Revolution.
