INFORMATION PORTAL

The Department of Trade, Industry, and Fair Competition wishes to advise the public of the launch of its Trade Information Portal (TIP).

This Portal, hosted on the Department of Trade’s website – www.gov.tc/trade, is a comprehensive resource for individuals and businesses involved in trade-related processes in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The TIP acts as a centralized hub where importers, exporters, traders, entrepreneurs, academics, and other interested parties can access information about trade regulations and procedures. It covers imports, exports, business starts, trade preferences, duty concessions, and more.

To create the TIP and gather information about various trade processes in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), the Department of Trade collaborated with several government departments, including the Environmental Health Department, the Customs Department, the Department of Fisheries & Marine Resources, the Department of Environmental & Coastal Resources, the Department of Agriculture, and the Inland Revenue Department.

The Department of Trade expects that the TIP will positively impact users by providing essential information, raising awareness among the general public, and guiding individuals engaged in trading activities. The information on the Portal will be updated quarterly, and stakeholder meetings will be held every six months to ensure its effectiveness and efficiency

Hon Josephine Connolly, and P/S Wesley Clerveaux were among the group who had a first-hand opportunity to see the progress achieved to date by the TCIAA team and listen to plans to enhance the passenger experience and streamline internal operations at the territory’s main port of entry.

To date structural and aesthetic changes at the airport include, a $1.7m upgrade to all restrooms, new air-conditioning for the security and immigration areas, administration offices moved to a new structure to accommodate the expansion of the sitting area, and 1000 additional seats and additional check-in counters.

A statement from the TCHTA issued on Thursday, June 22, 2023, explained that Phase One of the project is currently underway and set to be completed by next month.

This will see the extension of the vehicle drop-off area with 150 feet of curbside extension and a 4-footwide concrete sidewalk, alleviating the exterior curb congestion now experienced at the terminal drop-off area.

New airline offices, an intransit passenger screening area, a holding room, and the designation of a service elevator restricted to the movement of goods and merchandise are also slated for completion in July.

While the second phase of the project will include the relocation of retail outlets, stair and elevator second-level access to a new departures area, and a supporting security screening zone, all resulting in the relief of traveller congestion in the departure lounge and boarding areas. The TCHTA further revealed that a complete face-lift of the airport is earmarked for November 2023.

TCHTA CEO Stacy Cox commenting on the tour said: “This truly enlightened us to the incredible amount of work executed by these teams, which goes sightunseen.

“We have every faith that their timelines are achievable. They are much closer to the goalpost than many realise, and we can share with our members that this long-standing issue is well on its way to being a complaint of the past. They will be excited to share this news with their marketing teams and travel partners.”

TCHTA President and General Manager of Beaches Turks & Caicos, James McAnally, also expressed his satisfaction with the information shared during