The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA) warmly welcomed the new Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Yuan Guisen, on his first official visit to Grand Bahama Island.
GBPA President, Ian Rolle, described the visit as advantageous as Freeport looks to expand its logistics and trans-shipment capabilities to an even wider market. “The model for Grand Bahama Island is centred on distribution,” Rolle said. “We are strategically located and offer the facilities and concessions that would be attractive to international businesses.”
Possibilities for manufacturing, traditional Chinese medicine, assembly plants, shipping, executive education and alternative energy were some of the points discussed during the brief interchange.
In late 2011, upon the invitation of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, a team from GBPA traveled to Yiwu, China, to promote the extension of the Yiwu International Trade City to Freeport. With the visit of the new ambassador, there is hope that this game-changing project may once again be put on the table for discussion.
Reflecting on his visit, Ambassador Guisen described his role as a pivotal one. “I hope to work as a bridge between Chinese businesses and the Port Authority,” he said. “There are quite a number of opportunities to be explored and I will recommend them to respective companies back home.”
The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited
Caption: CHINESE AMBASSADOR VISITS GBPA: Pictured (left to right): Deann Seymour, Chief Financial Officer, GBPA; Ian Rolle, President, GBPA; Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Yuan Guisen; Madame Yang Hong; Derek Newbold, Business Development Manager, GBPA; and Graham Torode, President & CEO, DEVCO.
