The government of Trinidad and Tobago is reaffirming that the country is open for business.
This, as the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) hosted an inward trade mission with delegates from Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana on Monday.
The Doing Business in T&T Seminar is aimed at strengthening economic and cultural ties between Trinidad and Tobago and the French Caribbean.
Acting Director of Trade Facilitation at the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism, Neville Alexander, stressed that building strong and reliable trade relationships with reliable partners is key to our development and diversification efforts going forward.
“We also want to encourage deeper collaboration and services, particularly tourism services. Travel between Trinidad and the islands, such as Martinique, for instance, has been growing. It is our desire to further deepen our engagement in these areas as we seek to develop niches such as yachting, medical, sport, business, and ecotourism areas as potential drivers for the services sector ourselves.”
TTMA President, Dale Parson, emphasised the importance of creating opportunities for entrepreneurs and strengthening support for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.
“To empower SMEs, let us focus on the backbone of our economies, Small and Medium Enterprises, by facilitating partnerships and reducing barriers for entrepreneurs, we can create meaningful economic participation.”
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Carnival Committee, Keiba Mottley, noted that Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival is not just a festival but a multi-billion-dollar cultural industry with strong global demand and major potential for year-round economic expansion through investment, technology, and strategic partnerships.
She said the authenticity of T&T’s Carnival places it at a great competitive advantage.
“We are known as the best Carnival in the world and the best Carnival experience. So there are other types of carnivals so, for instance, in Rio, their Carnival is more of a show and a performance, whereas anybody can participate in Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival, and really and truly that’s what makes it unique because you could come in, and there are no barriers to entry for Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. Anybody can join and participate.”
The seminar will run from March 23rd to March 27th.