Allow me to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to CAF for its dedication to development in the region. Through its research, financial initiatives, and steadfast commitment to becoming a ‘Green and Blue’

Bank, CAF continues to be a pillar of support, promoting sustainable development and fostering social and economic resilience across our nations.

Collaborations with CAF

Over the years, CAF as a key development partner has provided financing and technical support to the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) in excess of US One Billion Dollars, in Loans for various development projects. For example, CAF has supported infrastructure projects for Road Construction; Air and Sea Transportation and Tourism Infrastructure; Strengthening of the Health System and COVID-19 Emergencies as well as Strengthening of the EXIM Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, to name a few. Additionally, Technical Cooperation Assistance estimated at US Four Hundred Thousand Dollars has been made available to support the Monitoring and Construction of the ANR Robinson International Airport; Evaluation of the Feasibility of a Public Private Partnership for the Drydock of Chaguaramas and the Development of Systems for establishing a Digital Tax Payment ecosystem in Trinidad and Tobago.

It’s my pleasure to further the cause of making financial inclusion a national priority.

Over the last few years, through in-depth surveys, we have been able to gather significant information on the state of financial inclusion in Trinidad and Tobago.
Financial inclusion means that individuals and businesses have easy access to affordable and useful financial products and services that meet their needs for transactions, banking, payments, savings, credit and insurance.

The research tells us that 75 % of our population save to some extent, which means that in the world context, Trinidad and Tobago is a high savings economy. However, an astonishing 82% of this group choose to save their money at home, which is neither safe nor productive.

We aim to engage with this group and encourage them to utilise financial products and services that offer better value, income generation and security for their savings.

PHOTO GALLERY

Over the last 30 years, most Latin American and Caribbean countries have unilaterally and multilaterally implemented trade liberalization policies within the framework of regional and extra-regional trade agreements. These policies have resulted in a reduction of tariffs and non-tariff barriers, generating increases in trade and investment. However, the magnitude of these increases has been modest. Trinidad and Tobago has even seen a decrease in its trade over GDP ratio, going from 99% of GDP in the period 1980-1984 to 85% in the period 2015-2019; Barbados shows a similar pattern while the Dominican Republic records an increase of 5%. In the same period, the region as a whole has increased its trade over GDP ratio from 52% to 62%.

Media Releases

Report “RED 2021” in the Caribbean

Presentation of the Economy and Development Report
(EDR) 2021 in the Caribbean

Image Gallery

It is indeed an honour to speak on this auspicious occasion – the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange.
The Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange (TTSE) is the main stock exchange in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and the largest stock exchange in the Caribbean region by market capitalization at TT$150 Billion (I am told that the second largest, the JSE, has a market cap of just under a TT$110 Billion). It is noteworthy that a number of companies from other CARICOM countries, such as Barbados and Jamaica, also cross-list their stocks onto the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange and on behalf of the Government I wish to encourage more and more companies within Caricom to cross list on the TTSE.

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The Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange Limited 40th Anniversary Conference – Morning Session

This event brought together citizens from various leadership sectors of our society, both in the public sector and in the private sector, and industry professionals, to focus in earnest on the current economic position of Trinidad and Tobago and discuss proposals for the future development of our Nation.

Presentations

Spotlight on the Economy 2022 Event

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Presentation by Mr. Vishnu Dhanpaul, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance: “Where the money gone?” Mystery or Mischief?

Spotlight on the Budget and Economy 2021 in Focus

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“This project is a promise kept.”

This was how the Honourable Colm Imbert, Minister of Finance, described the contract signing ceremony for the ANR Robinson International Airport Expansion Project, held yesterday, 28th January, 2020, at the International Departure Gate of the ANR Robinson International Airport in Tobago.

Feature Address

The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, desirous of promoting the continued development of Tobago is providing the island with a new and modern international airport terminal with sufficient capacity and level of service to support its tourism development. The project will comprise the development of a new terminal building and associated airside and landside infrastructure, whilst maintaining the operation of the existing terminal building during construction of the new terminal. It was also deemed necessary to adopt measures to improve the current service level of the existing terminal building for ongoing domestic and cargo operations and any future operations.

The Honourable Colm Imbert, Minister of Finance

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– A presentation by Poten & Partners for Spotlight on Energy, March 2018.