Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh, has proposed creating a weekend space in Port of Spain where small business owners can display their products.
He outlined this concept at the graduation ceremony of the fifth cohort of the Unit Trust Corporation’s Scale Up Programme, saying Trinidad and Tobago must lessen its dependency on the oil and gas sector.
He said local small, micro, and medium-sized businesses need a platform to share their products with the general public.
“What if we create a little safe space, and rather than have these displays that half of Trinidad would never see, create every Sunday, every Saturday afternoon, from October to after Carnival, a permanent place where people could come and display their things and bring everybody to see it?”
The Minister noted that the private sector contributes 30% to the local gross domestic product, adding that this needs to increase.
“We put it there from a Saturday to Sunday. When we bring international people, let them come and buy it. When we bring international people, take them to Freebird. When we bring international people, let them buy these products. Let them go and taste because Fresh Start has margaritas and juice, and you know what I mean.”
He also wants an aisle in every local supermarket to be dedicated to local products.
“Part of what we need to do, therefore, is build local markets but also build international markets and expose people. That is where we have to invest and give people access to international experiences where they can take their products to different places. Where they can experience and realise that there is strength in what you do and there is a significant amount of opportunity globally.”
The Scale Up Programme graduated nine businesses at its ceremony in South Trinidad on Friday.