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Several companies from Yantai City in Shandong Province, China, including a vocational college, met with Barbadian businesses and schools to talk about possible partnerships and investments.
The meeting took place at the Accra Beach Hotel & Spa in Rockley, Christ Church. The main topic was “Zero-Carbon Island Cooperation”.
Sandra Payne, the Deputy CEO of Invest Barbados, said this was the first formal meeting between Invest Barbados and business leaders from Yantai. She said Barbados and China have had a good, long-standing relationship, and meetings like this help that relationship grow.
Ms. Payne explained that Barbados is open to foreign investment and wants to welcome ideas that help the country grow. She said Invest Barbados looks for investments that are both practical and sustainable, especially in areas like green energy, ocean resources (the blue economy), and knowledge industries.
Huang Xinhua, a Chinese diplomat in Barbados, said the two countries are far apart but share similar goals. He described China as a great place for business, with strong policies and a safe environment. He also said China encourages its companies to invest in Barbados and hopes to cooperate more in green energy and ocean-related projects.
Hu Yibing, head of the Yantai Zero-Carbon Island Development Center, said China understands the worries of small island nations like Barbados when it comes to climate change. He said they want to work together to support green, low-carbon development and help Barbados grow sustainably.
At the end of the meeting, Professor Clive Landis from The University of the West Indies and Kali Grant from the Ashley Lashley Foundation gave Mr. Yibing letters accepting membership in the International Zero-Carbon Island Cooperation Organization.
Groups that took part in the meeting included the Barbados Private Sector Association, Williams Industries Inc., Barbados Renewable Association, Barbados Community College, and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology.
Source: Barbados GIS.
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