“If your dreams do not scare you, then they are not big enough.”
Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism Satyakama Maharaj shared some advice with business leaders, young entrepreneurs, innovators, and students at this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Workshop.
Using his mother’s words as a guiding principle, he outlined a bold vision for Trinidad and Tobago. He explained how the nation can leverage its unique geographical position and embrace ambitious thinking to strengthen its socio-economic standing.
“And we are going to make Trinidad a natural transatlantic hub, linking the global, countries of the global south, from Asia to Africa, to come to Trinidad. But we going to open that market so we are negotiating a duty free agreement with Ghana first and then CARICOM and ECOWAS West Africa to open a market for 420 million people to our entrepreneurs, our manufacturers, our producers of agricultural products.”
He revealed that the Government is setting its sights on Carnival, with plans to establish a World Carnival City at the Queen’s Park Savannah during its term.
“There you’re going to find the wire benders. We are going to save that profession. The pan tuners, we will save that profession. The mas builders, we are going to export that to the world. We are going to be the centre of Carnival in the world, right here in Trinidad.”