The Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence (MPAAI) has reaffirmed Trinidad and Tobago’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation with the Republic of India, advancing strategic partnerships in digital transformation, artificial intelligence and digital public infrastructure.
This recommitment was underscored during the Government’s participation in the AI Impact Summit 2026, hosted by the Government of India from February 18th to 20th, 2026.
Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, Senator Dominic Smith, represented Trinidad and Tobago at the Summit, which convened Heads of Government, Ministers, global technology executives and policy leaders to examine the global impact of Artificial Intelligence on governance, economic resilience and sustainable development.
Minister Smith’s participation focused on strengthening collaboration with India in key areas critical to Trinidad and Tobago’s national digital agenda, including:
· Large-scale digital transformation of public services
· Development of secure, interoperable digital public infrastructure
· Ethical and responsible AI adoption frameworks
· Sovereign data governance and national policy architecture
India’s global leadership in implementing scalable digital identity systems, digital payment ecosystems and national AI strategies provided significant insights for Trinidad and Tobago’s continued AI push. The engagement creates avenues for structured knowledge exchange, technical cooperation and institutional capacity-building between both countries.
During the Summit, Minister Smith also engaged in high-level discussions with representatives from the Governments of the United Arab Emirates, the United States, several African nations and Switzerland, as well as senior leaders within the global technology sector. These engagements explored opportunities for collaboration in AI governance, cybersecurity resilience, data protection and innovation ecosystems.
In reflecting on the significance of the visit, Minister Smith stated, “For small states, digital transformation must be deliberate, sovereign and partnership-driven. Our strengthened engagement with India signals our resolve to build secure digital public infrastructure, advance ethical AI adoption and position Trinidad and Tobago as a serious technology partner on the global stage.”
The Ministry’s participation at the AI Impact Summit 2026 reinforces Trinidad and Tobago’s emerging role as a regional technology hub and signals a sustained commitment to international cooperation that accelerates innovation while safeguarding national interests.