China looking elsewhere in the Caribbean for Logistics Hub ?

Dom Rep is the short and widely used name for the Spanish speaking Island of Dominica Republic and that country has been making some very good strides economically.

Dominican Republic can be the gateway for Chinese products to U.S. and European markets, due to the Caribbean country’s free trade agreements with both regions so said its Economy Minister, Temistocles Montas,

Dominican Republic is the Caribbean’s second largest trading partner behind, guess who, Jamaica , but the  Dominican Republic Economy minister Temistocles Montas, maybe looking to change that. He visited the Peoples Republic of China in April of this year seeking to bring more investment into that country.

There is one problem and that is the Dominican Republic has very strong ties with Taiwan and we all know of the frosty relationship  that exist between Tiawan and China, but they the Dominicans is not about to make that get in the way of increased Chinese investment in Dom Rep.

While Jamaicans remains at the starting block and appears indecisive about the location of the Logistics Hub, other have been making overtures to China, in the hope of getting large scale investment in thier country.  Goat Island or no Goat Island, the Chinese will have a logistics hub somewhere in the Caribbean and the most likely spot if not Jamaica , will be Dominican Republic.

Just last month Sri Lanka open up a brand new US$500m port terminal funded by the Governent of China as Sri Lanka seeks to deepen trade with the new economic power house. Here is what Bloomberg reported

Sri Lanka opened a $500 million container terminal at Colombo Port today, the biggest investment in the island’s harbours, as the nation seeks to upgrade its infrastructure with Chinese help.

The terminal, built and operated by China Merchants Holdings International Co. (144), will handle 2.4 million containers a year and boost Colombo’s capacity by almost half, according to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. President Mahinda Rajapaksa inaugurated the facility.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-04/sri-lanka-to-open-500-million-container-terminal-built-by-china.html

So while we wait on  the Prime Minister to give us an update on the Mission to China and environmentalist battle to protect goat island, China is looking elsewhere and for people who are ready to do business.

By the time we are finally ready , the ink may have dried  on a deal with the Dominican Republic for the transshipment hub, that Jamaica failed to agree on.

This is a warning.

Anthony Hylton over to you sir, you insisted on CVM TV last week that you are still the man in charge of the hub, but sir your body language was unconvincing, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt.