Government has partnered with the largest company in India to build a cricket academy in Trincity.
This was revealed by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley at the post-Cabinet press conference at Whitehall in Port of Spain on Thursday.
He said the Reliance group of India will be involved in a private public partnership and the government has agreed to allocate the parcel of land obliquely opposite Trincity Mall for the academy.
Dr Rowley said the land for the academy was allocated from the “stalled headquarters” of Pan Trinbago, who has agreed in exchange for accommodation in Port of Spain.
He said the Cabinet was approached by interests from Trinidad and Tobago and India and agreed to the proposal.
Reliance Industries operates in many sectors, including energy, petrochemicals, textiles, natural resources, retail, and telecommunications.
It has already sent an architect to visit the site and work has begun on designing the facility.
The Ambani family, the principals of Reliance, are also the owners of the Mumbai Indians team in the Indian Premier League.
Dr Rowley said Reliance was very familiar with T&T and noted Keiron Pollard, who after being a player, was now bowling coach for the Mumbai Indians.
As the current chairman of the CARICOM Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee for Cricket, Dr Rowley said there will be a conference next week with stakeholders to discuss a way forward for West Indies cricket.
He hoped that this investment will augur well for West Indies cricket to have more people involved in the sport and be of an international standard.