STORY: BRI important in fostering regional integration: Trinidad and Tobago expert
DATELINE: Oct. 12, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:06
LOCATION: Port of Spain
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of ports
2. SOUNDBITE (English): ANNITA MONTOUTE, Interim director, Institute of Int'l Relations, UWI St. Augustine Campus
3. various of the Trinidad and Tobago Phoenix Park Industrial Estate
4. various of construction sites

STORYLINE:

An international relations expert from Trinidad and Tobago has said that the Belt and Road Initiative is very important in fostering regional integration.

Annita Montoute, interim director of the Institute of International Relations of the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus, made the remarks in a recent interview with Xinhua.

SOUNDBITE (English): ANNITA MONTOUTE, Interim director, Institute of Int'l Relations, UWI St. Augustine Campus
"I see it as a non-conventional or non-Western model of globalization, which is to integrate infrastructure, the movement of persons, and integrate the world under global economy, in a different way from what we are used to.
In practical terms, I see it as a major global initiative to be able to help with development initiatives in countries that need it, because without infrastructure, which is one of the main pillars, without infrastructure, without connectivity, (it's impossible) to be able to have transborder transactions, to have transborder trade. And any sort of transaction across countries, you need the connectivity, you need the infrastructure, and you need things to be able to facilitate that.
I really like the concept of the Belt and Road Initiative because one of the central pillars is about infrastructure and connectivity. That is a very important element to be able to foster another type of regional integration, at least complement the type of economic integration model that we have. And that is to facilitate projects that would enable regional cooperation."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Port of Spain.
(XHTV)