The growing presence of Indian Expos in Trinidad and Tobago is creating new opportunities for investment, employment and trade, with industry stakeholders saying the sector is making an increasingly significant contribution to the local economy.
Following the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2025, organiser of the Fab India Expo in Chaguanas, Baba Singh, says there has been growing interest among Indian businesses in exploring investment opportunities in Trinidad and Tobago, extending the relationship beyond cultural exchange and into economic development.
“With our Prime Minister coming into Trinidad, of course, with the very grand reception placed by our Government, it really created a big hype, and where most of the businesses in India now are investing in Trinidad and looking for a lot of foreign investment coming into Trinidad.”
He estimates that at least 5,000 families are connected to the Indian Expo industry, with T&T benefiting from the economic activity generated through its operations.
“Indian exhibitions now, overall, not only us, but overall, are generating a lot of employment, taxes, you know, inport duties. And what goes back to India is very minimal because that’s one-tenth of the cost, which comes from India. Everything is here. The rentals are here. The, you know, the land rents, the booth rents – everything is remaining here. So, yes, you know, it is a big way now.”
Mr Singh said the industry’s business model combines international exhibitors with local employees, creating employment while introducing specialised products and expertise to the local market.
“We have now over 300 people working with us, which mostly are Trinidadians, and of course, the exhibitors are from India because they know where to get it from and all that. But now the salesgirls and everybody are locals. They exactly know how to sell. They exactly know how to drape. They exactly know how to put things on people to make them look best.”
He added that continued expansion among exhibitors is further evidence of the sector’s economic impact, with business growth translating into increased employment opportunities and greater tax contributions.
“With Fab India Expo, they never said, Oh, no, we’re not doing well or something wrong. No, they’re always going upwards, and if you can see somebody expanding from two stores to three stores and three stores to four stores, that means he is doing something good. So they are expanding, and so is the employment expanding. and so is the taxes expanding. So we are contributing in all ways and part of the economy now.”
With plans for further expansion and continued growth among participating exhibitors, Fab India Expo is looking to build on its contribution to local employment, business opportunities and the wider economy.