The Forum will examine the region’s economic outlook and development priorities in a context of heightened global uncertainty, with discussions spanning macroeconomic stability, sustainable growth, productivity, investment, climate resilience, infrastructure, innovation, and regional integration. The programme includes plenary sessions, thematic panels, closed-door ministerial dialogues, and a business matchmaking forum aimed at strengthening investment and commercial ties across the region.

Featured speakers will include, His Excellency, Jose Raul Mulino Quintero, President of the Republic of Panama, His Excellency, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Dr. The Most Honourable Andrew Holness.

The Finance Minister will also be participating in the Caribbean Ministerial Dialogue titled- Accelerating Development Financing for the Caribbean: Agility, Flexibility, Impact scheduled for Thursday 29th January, 2026. The session is designed to nurture a solution-oriented exchange with a view to signing CAF’s development financing with national development priorities, strengthening implementation of existing projects, and positioning CAF as a long-term strategic partner for advancing sustainable and inclusive growth in the Caribbean.

Minister Tancoo is currently the Chairman of CAF’s Board of Directors until March 31st,2026, having assumed the position in April 2025.

For additional information about the International Economic Forum, including the agenda, speakers, panelists, please access the following link: https://www.caf.com/…/international-economic-forum…/

Earlier Today, Wednesday 28th January, 2026, Finance Minister, The Honourable Davendranath Tancoo participated in CAF’s International Economic Forum – Latin America and the Caribbean Plenary Session titled ‘Economic Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean: Between Stability and Growth |Session 2: The Growth Agenda Investment, Productivity, and Productive Transformation.

The plenary session offers a broad comparative view of the region’s economic outlook towards 2026, in a context of rising demands on economic policy and the growing attention to the sustainability of public finances. The discussions examined the key balances shaping today’s agenda: how to preserve creditability and predictability through solid fiscal frameworks, responsible debt management and improvements in the quality and efficiency of public spending, while rebuilding room to foster more dynamic and sustainable growth.

Session Two (2) explored productivity and investment as key drivers of sustainable growth, linking macroeconomic fundamentals with the conditions needed to strengthen competitiveness, diversification and economic performances over the medium term.

Panellist also included, Ms. Denisse Azucena Miralles, Minister of Economy and Finance of Peru, The Honourable Dennis Cornwall, Minister of Finance, Grenada, Mr. Jorge Quiroz, Head of Economic Program of Chile’s President -elect- Jose Antonio Kast and Mr. Felipe Larrain (Moderator), Former Minster of Finance of Chile and Director of the Latin American Center for Economic and Social Policy at the Pontifical Catholic University.

See video clipping attached to view the Honorable Minister of Finance Presentation at the session.

For additional information about the International Economic Forum, including the agenda, speakers, panelists, please access the following link: https://www.caf.com/…/international-economic-forum…/

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His Excellency, Diomedes Carles also took the opportunity to extend an invitation to Minister Tancoo requesting his attendance at the International Economic Forum -Latin America and the Caribbean 2026, which is scheduled from January 28^th – 29^th 2026 in Panama City, Panama, where both His Excellency, Jose Raul Mulino Quintero, President of the Republic of Panama and His Excellency, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil are expected to deliver remarks.

The event will be jointly hosted by the Government of the Republic of Panama and CAF- Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. Accompanying the Panamanian Ambassador at this morning’s meeting was Ms. Indra Peralta, Third Secretary of the Diplomatic and Consular.

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Fear mongering in Trinidad and Tobago is a favourite pastime of PNM puppets and puppeteers.
And it is no different with the latest ratings action from Standard & Poor’s, the international
credit ratings agency. We have all been conditioned to think and expect the worse when a more
dispassionately objective assessment would better serve everyone. Let’s try to understand
what this means.
The Standard & Poor’s (S&P) rating scale is a widely recognized system used to evaluate the
creditworthiness of Government debt including bonds and other financial obligations. By
assigning ratings that range from ‘AAA’ to ‘D,’ the S&P rating scale helps investors make
informed decisions about the risk level of investments. S&P is an internationally respected
agency and would have undertaken a rigorous assessment exercise ahead of its rating action.

Today, the rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) affirmed Trinidad and Tobago’s investment grade rating at BBB-, while revising the outlook from stable to negative.

S&P’s affirmation of Trinidad and Tobago’s investment grade status reflects the country’s long established democratic institutions, economic stability, favourable external profile and buffers (“This profile includes a strong external creditor position, supported by assets in the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF)”). However, S&P has revised the outlook from stable to negative, signalling the need for reforms to enhance fiscal sustainability and improve economic diversification.

These two vital Bills provide strong protection against both crime and criminality. With their passage, Trinidad and Tobago will have a robust legislative framework to properly deal with the proceeds of crime including, cross-border activities, and the kind of white-collar crime that has already robbed this nation of billions of dollars and destroyed thousands of lives.

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On December 16, 2024, Moody’s affirmed Trinidad and Tobago’s rating at Ba2 with a Stable outlook. This affirmation is underpinned by the country’s return to sustained growth, primarily driven by the non-energy sector.

Despite lower-than-projected energy revenues in fiscal year 2024, which have increased the fiscal deficit to 4.8% of GDP from 1.7% in fiscal year 2023, Moody’s recognizes the government’s fiscal revenue diversification efforts, as evidenced by the operationalization of Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority (TTRA) in 2025.

The rating agency also acknowledges that potential fiscal risks are mitigated by significant buffers. These include the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF) and cash reserves amounting to more than 40% of GDP in fiscal year 2024.

Video Presentation