The Couva/Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce has described the 2016-2017 Budget as a good initiative by Government.
President Liaquat Ali said the group was very much that the Couva Children’s Hospital will be completed via a private/public sector partnership.
Speaking at a budget symposium at the Chamber’s Camden Road, Couva, headquarters yesterday, Ali said the hopes the hospital gets on stream by 2017.
He was also pleased about the tax free concessions offered to the agro-processing sector.
Noting that the Ministry of National Security got the largest chunk of the pie, Ali said nationals are not seeing results when it comes to crime reduction.
He said while the Chamber welcomes the return of the aluminum smelter, the environmental impact of the project must be looked considered.
Shiva Roopnarine, president of the Penal/Debe Chamber of Commerce, said the seven per cent charge on airfreight will give retail businesses a chance to be competitive with online shopping.
While he expects the increase in diesel prices to affect the agriculture sector, Roopnarine said he does not anticipate any major increases in transportation costs and food prices.
