Senator the Honourable Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh, Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development and Minister in the Ministry of Finance , today welcomed His Excellency Mattanya Cohen, Ambassador of Israel to Trinidad and Tobago, and Her Excellency Eynat Shlein, Ambassador and Director General of MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation—to the Ministry for high-level discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and identifying new opportunities for sustainable development.
The meeting centred on expanding collaboration in several strategic areas, including modern agriculture, education, cybersecurity, smart cities, climate resilience, and institutional capacity building. Discussions also explored innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models and opportunities to enhance the growth and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Minister Swaratsingh underscored the importance of leveraging international partnerships to accelerate Trinidad and Tobago’s development agenda.
“Israel has demonstrated global leadership in innovation, technology, and sustainable development. We value this longstanding relationship and see significant opportunities to deepen our collaboration in areas that directly support economic diversification, food security, digital transformation, and climate resilience. By sharing expertise and building institutional capacity, we can create lasting benefits for the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” said Minister Swaratsingh.
The Minister further noted that strengthening partnerships with international development agencies such as MASHAV aligns with the Government’s commitment to fostering innovation, improving public sector performance, and creating an enabling environment for sustainable economic growth.
Ambassador Cohen reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago.
“Israel greatly values its friendship with Trinidad and Tobago. We are committed to strengthening our partnership through the exchange of knowledge, technology, and practical experience that supports sustainable development and delivers tangible benefits for both our countries,” Ambassador Cohen stated.
Director General of MASHAV, Ambassador Eynat Shlein, highlighted the importance of knowledge-sharing and technical cooperation.
“MASHAV has built partnerships around the world by sharing practical solutions in agriculture, education, innovation, and community development. We look forward to working closely with Trinidad and Tobago to identify programmes that build local capacity and contribute to long-term, inclusive development,” Ambassador Shlein said.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to further explore technical cooperation initiatives, facilitate knowledge exchange, and identify priority projects that will strengthen bilateral relations while supporting Trinidad and Tobago’s sustainable development objectives.