The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is proud to highlight the significant milestones and benefits derived from its enduring partnership with CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean.
This relationship, rooted in visionary leadership and a commitment to sustainable development, has reached new heights, positioning Trinidad and Tobago as a central pillar of CAF’s regional strategy.” These sentiments were echoed by the outgoing Chairman of the Board of Directors of CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, The Honourable Davendranath Tancoo, Minister of Finance in delivering the feature address at the Bank’s CLXXXVIII Board of Directors Meeting which took place on March 3^rd 2026 in Lima, Peru.

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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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Earlier today, (Monday 15th December, 2025), Minister of Finance, the Honourable Davendranath Tancoo travelled to Panama City, Panama to attend both the Board of Directors and the XLVI Audit Committee (CAU) Meetings hosted by CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean in Panama City, Panama scheduled from 15th -16th December, 2025.
The CLXXXVII Board of Directors Meeting will take place on December 16th 2025 to review and approve the Program of Activities and Budget for 2026, along with the authorisation of credit operations. The agenda includes decisions on the allocation of shares, specifically Series “C” shares for Haiti and Saint Kitts and Nevis. Additionally, it will also include the confirmation of Barbados’ compliance with the conditions to transition to a full member country, joining Trinidad and Tobago as the only other CAF full member from CARICOM.

Finance Minister, The Honourable Davendranath Tancoo met with representatives from the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) to discuss some of the ongoing initiatives with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago led by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and to formally highlight the bank’s role as Trinidad and Tobago’s principal multilateral development partner. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Finance Head Office, Eric Williams Finance Building on May 12^th, 2025.

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Santiago, Chile – March 28, 2025: At its first board meeting of 2025, Trinidad and Tobago assumed the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors of CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Vishnu Dhanpaul will serve a one-year term, during which he will preside over all meetings of the board. Minister Dhanpaul will succeed Minister of Finance and Economy of the Dominican Republic, Hon. José Manuel Vicente. Trinidad and Tobago was represented by the Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Hon. Hassel Bacchus.

In his remarks, Minister Bacchus stated, “CAF is a key player in shaping our country’s development and has been, for a long time, our largest multilateral partner. It is an honour to be the first English speaking Caribbean country to assume the chairmanship of the Board of Directors at CAF, at a time concomitant to the Bank’s effort to incorporate new Caribbean Countries as partners and shareholders.”

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.

More than one hundred (100) Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Trinidad and Tobago are set to receive a significant boost in financing to grow their operations and expand into new markets.

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Colm Imbert and the Director Representative for CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean in Trinidad and Tobago, Bernardo Requena, signed a USD 35 million investment loan to strengthen the Export Import Bank of Trinidad and Tobago’s (EXIMBANK’s) services to cater to a broader range of clients, particularly Small and Medium Enterprises. The credit facility will secure USD 35 million in additional funding to expand EXIMBANK’s financial services and support to SMEs and emerging sectors and position them to better compete in local, regional and international markets.

In the framework of the ‘Project for the Control of Transfer Pricing Operations in Trinidad and Tobago’, funded by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), a CIAT team visited the Ministry of Finance of Trinidad & Tobago and its Inland Revenue Division (IRD) during the period March 2-5, 2023; with the aim to formulate a diagnostic on the capacity of the tax administration, define the country’s economic profile and the expectations of the authorities. Now, there is an opportunity for the Ministry of Finance, CAF and CIAT to create an innovative transfer pricing regime, in keeping with the Arm´s Length Principle, and tailored to the particular context of Trinidad & Tobago.