By SIMON LEWIS

Bahamas Information Services

A three-member group from China Fujian Jindeli Holdings Limited arrived in Grand Bahama Tuesday to conduct research on the feasibility of starting up a tourism handicraft manufacturing project in The Bahamas.

Headed by Pan Ying Ming, senior economist and president assistant, the group arrived in The Bahamas last Monday, and with the assistance of the Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation (BAIC) carried out some assessment in New Providence before traveling to Grand Bahama.

They are expected to be in The Bahamas until April 3. Their stay in the country will also include a visit to South Andros on Thursday morning.

The group's visit comes on the heels of a visit to China last year by Prime Minister Perry G. Christie.

Pan Ying Ming said that while in China, Prime Minister Christie visited their plants and extended an invitation for them to come to The Bahamas to view the possibilities of investing here.

Welcoming the group to Grand Bahama, Parliamen-tary Secretary in the Office of The Prime Minister Ann Percentie Russell said the visit also reassures Bahamians that the relationship between The Bahamas and China is reaching new heights.

She touched on the China-based firm Hutchison Whampoa's involvement in the shipping and hotel industry on Grand Bahama, saying that it makes good sense that with all these resources available and potential for manufacturing, a country like China can and should use The Bahamas to help expose their products to the world and "equally important, assist in the training of those Bahamians involved in manufacturing and light industries."

According to Mrs. Percentie-Russell, China has for a very long time taken the lead in manufacturing, and wherever one turns one sees an abundance of goods and clothing carrying the label, 'Made in China.'

"So you are a power- house and we are pleased to have you as our friend," she told the group.

She also invited them to look at the potential for investing outside of the Freeport area as well, mentioning places like West End and East Grand Bahama.

"We want you to leave here and tell all of China that this is the place to be and to invest, and that it is indeed better in The Bahamas," Mrs. Percentie-Russell said.

Speaking through an interpreter, Pan Ying Ming, during an earlier meeting with officials from BAIC Freeport, said he was thankful to the Government for organizing the trip.

He said that they have visited several places in The Bahamas and that there are many resources here, adding that they love the people and the country.

He explained that his company, China Fujian Jindeli Holdings Limited, specializes in producing golden jewellery, souvenirs, art and craft.

"We are a big group company," he said. "It is kind of a big business in China. Our company hire more that 3,000 employee."

According to Mr. Ying Ming, their network of sales covers more than 30 provinces and they also sell their products overseas.

He said that they have a lot of advanced equipment for producing the various products, coupled with highly skilled workers.

"Last August, His Excellency, Prime Minister Perry Christie visited our factory in Fuji and showed great interest in our products and therefore invited us to visit his country as soon as possible," he said.

Mr. Ying Ming said the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Tourism also expressed a keen interest in their visit to The Bahamas.

"We wish by this visit to get some insight into the local market and also try to make a proposal in helping the local community make some products with Bahamian characteristic," he said. "And using our existing sales network, I would like to perhaps introduce all these products into China and other countries, by improving the quality and design of local products with Bahamas character."

Mr. Ying Ming admitted that they see a good market for the straw, shell and wood crafting products.

"This is such a beautiful place, Paradise, and lots of tourists visit here," he said. "We see a huge market for these souvenirs. At the moment we see a lot of the products are handmade. There is still room for improvement of the quality and the grade of these products. We hope that we can put in our technique, the advanced technique. Historically we are always very good at making all these craftsmanship. We hope that we can use that to improve the quality and the whole design of the product."

He said this initiative will also cause The Bahamas to reduce the level of imports of that type of product into the country.

Once the feasibility studies are completed, Mr. Ying Ming said it would be his desire to start up the project as soon as possible, adding that he would truly love to work and live here.

H. Rudy Sawyer, assistant general manager for BAIC, with responsibilities for the Freeport office, said the aspect of the Chinese group's visit falls within the mandate of what they do at BAIC.

"What we are about as a corporate entity is the development of the domestic investment sector, particularly in manufacturing here in The Bahamas," Mr. Sawyer said. "The delegation has an interest spurred on by the Prime Minister in his visit to their factory in China and an invitation to come to The Bahamas, to come in and help and assist in whichever way they can with that expertise that they have had over the years, to help and improve this multibillion dollar industry we call the souvenir and handicraft industry in The Bahamas."

Mr. Sawyer pointed out that with The Bahamas being a leading tourism destination, the market potential is great, and BAIC is the agency of government which is mandated to encourage and to help spur on the development of private initiatives here in The Bahamas.

"Certainly, as this group visits us here in Grand Bahama, and we know Freeport as the manufacturing base within The Bahamas, they are welcomed with open arms," Mr. Sawyer said. "We certainly look forward to the results of their feasibility study, and if they do decide to establish here in The Bahamas, we do wish that they will choose to do it here in Freeport, with all the advantages that we have under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and the other agreements and incentives that are in place through the government agencies. We feel as if we do have the right environment for it."

The group is scheduled to visit a number of places on Grand Bahama, and are expected to meet with officials from the Grand Bahama Port Authority this morning.

Also travelling with the group to Grand Bahama was Senator Yvette Turnquest, coordinator for souvenir manufacturing at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute, and Joyce Treco, assistant general manager with BAIC's Nassua office.

ALL SMILES — A three-member group from China Fujian Jindeli Holdings Limited are in Grand Bahama conducting research on the feasibility of starting up a tourism handicraft manufacturing project in The Bahamas. From left are Chala Cartwright, BAIC Handicraft Department; Senator Yvette Turnquest, Co-ordinator, BTVI Souvenir Manufacturing; Business Consultant and Interpreter Chen Chuqing; Assistant President Pan Yin Ming; and Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Ann Percentie-Russell; BAIC Assistant General Manager H. Rudy Sawyer; BTVI Assistant General Manager, New Providence Joyce Treco; and Director of Office Chen Qiang.(Photo by ANGELO ARMBRISTER)