CONTACT Magazine (Vol.19 No.1 – March 2019)
The fourth issue of the rebranded CONTACT Magazine — with a brand new editorial and design direction — produced by MEP Publishers for the Trinidad & Tobago Chamber of Industry & Commerce
The fourth issue of the rebranded CONTACT Magazine — with a brand new editorial and design direction — produced by MEP Publishers for the Trinidad & Tobago Chamber of Industry & Commerce
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<strong>Vol.19</strong> <strong>No.1</strong> <strong>–</strong> <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Voice of Business in Trinidad & Tobago<br />
Aldwyn Wayne of WiPay<br />
BOLD<br />
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NEW<br />
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Resilient manufacturing | Attracting investment
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<strong>Vol.19</strong> <strong>No.1</strong> <strong>–</strong> <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
Contents<br />
Editor’s note 7<br />
Natalie Dookie introduces this issue of <strong>CONTACT</strong><br />
The future of fossil fuels 8<br />
Energy strategist Anthony Paul explores the future of oil<br />
and gas, taking us from challenges to opportunities<br />
The economic outlook 44<br />
Prospects for Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean,<br />
and the global economy in the year ahead<br />
Energy update 46<br />
The state of the energy sector in figures<br />
Special <strong>CONTACT</strong> Survey:<br />
Blueprint for a bold new economy<br />
Welcome to new members 48<br />
The Chamber extends a warm greeting to members<br />
who have recently joined<br />
An inconvenient truth 14<br />
In an economy lacking growth, Hayden Blades suggests<br />
how we can create an enabling business environment for<br />
long-term sustainable development and prosperity<br />
Selling our services 18<br />
The Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries<br />
has a road map for going global. Learn about their new<br />
national exporters’ services registry and internationalisation<br />
initiatives<br />
Where are all the tourists? 23<br />
The T&T tourism success story is still waiting to happen.<br />
John Bell looks at the Sandals saga and lessons to be learnt.<br />
How can we save the sector?<br />
Manufacturing the future 26<br />
According to the Trinidad & Tobago Manufacturers’<br />
Association, there is still much to be done in order<br />
to create a more resilient sector geared for success<br />
Empowering our artists 28<br />
Keith Nurse and Alicia Shepherd make the case for greater<br />
investment in the creative/cultural sector<br />
Towards a renaissance of agriculture 32<br />
How prepared is our agriculture sector for climate change?<br />
Steve Maximay guides us on how to re-align the sector<br />
The challenge of renewable energy 36<br />
Dr Zaffar Khan and Atiyyah A. Khan discuss the challenge<br />
of maximising renewable energy and increasing energy<br />
efficiency in T&T<br />
Attracting the investor 40<br />
InvesTT tells Joel Henry about its success stories and how<br />
it is engaging with the diaspora<br />
On the cover:<br />
Aldwyn Wayne, Chief Executive<br />
Officer, WiPay (Trinidad and Tobago)<br />
Limited; Roanna Maraj, Managing<br />
Director, Keystone Designs Limited/<br />
ShupHub; and Jean-Marc Aimey,<br />
Chief Executive Officer, Sun Tixx<br />
Caribbean Limited<br />
(Photos by: Dos Imagery)<br />
4 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
The voice of business in Trinidad & Tobago<br />
Published by<br />
The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber<br />
of Industry and Commerce<br />
Columbus Circle, Westmoorings, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago<br />
PO Box 499, Port of Spain • Tel: (868) 637-6966 • Fax: (868) 622-4475<br />
Email: chamber@chamber.org.tt • Website: www.chamber.org.tt<br />
Tobago Division:<br />
ANSA McAL Building, Milford Road, Scarborough, Tobago<br />
Tel: (868) 639-2669 • Fax: (868) 639-2669<br />
Email: tobagochamber@chamber.org.tt<br />
Produced for the Chamber by<br />
MEP Publishers (Media & Editorial Projects Ltd)<br />
6 Prospect Avenue, Maraval, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago<br />
Tel: 622-3821 • Fax: 628-0639<br />
Email: info@meppublishers.com • Website: www.meppublishers.com<br />
Editor<br />
Online editor<br />
General manager<br />
Page layout & design<br />
Advertising<br />
Production<br />
Editorial assistant<br />
Natalie Dookie<br />
Caroline Taylor<br />
Halcyon Salazar<br />
Kriston Chen<br />
Evelyn Chung, Tracy Farrag,<br />
Mark-Jason Ramesar<br />
Jacqueline Smith<br />
Shelly-Ann Inniss<br />
DISCLAIMER<br />
Opinions expressed in Contact are those of the authors, and<br />
not necessarily of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry<br />
and Commerce or its partners or associates.<br />
COURTESY CHRISTINA MORELLO / PEXELS.COM<br />
<strong>CONTACT</strong> is published quarterly by the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of<br />
Industry and Commerce (TTCIC). It is available online at www.chamber.org.tt/<br />
media/the-contact-business-magazine. ©<strong>2019</strong> TTCIC. All rights reserved. No part<br />
of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the written permission<br />
of the publisher.<br />
chamber.org.tt
COURTESY INVESTT<br />
6 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
Editor’s Note<br />
Editor’s note<br />
In this issue of <strong>CONTACT</strong>, we have<br />
assembled a team of experts to build<br />
a Blueprint for a Bold New Economy<br />
Trinidad and Tobago’s energy sector is expected to have contributed 36.1%<br />
to GDP in 2018, in stark contrast to the highs of 50% and more in past<br />
decades. Economic growth in 2018 is projected to reach 1.9%. In the face of<br />
these sobering statistics, coupled with volatile global oil prices and depleting<br />
resources, there is a lot of uncertainty regarding our future.<br />
Economic diversification of the energy and non-energy sectors must<br />
therefore become a priority, especially as the process can take decades before<br />
it brings real change to the bottom line.<br />
Does Trinidad and Tobago have enough time to transform its economy<br />
before oil and gas run out, and what path should it take? In this issue of<br />
<strong>CONTACT</strong>, we have assembled a team of experts to build a Blueprint for a<br />
Bold New Economy.<br />
We begin by examining how to maximise our remaining resources and<br />
enhance the energy services sector for export. Next, we develop a business<br />
environment geared for economic growth.<br />
We look at how to further champion the services sector, already a strong<br />
contributor to GDP, and include a detailed review of the challenges and solutions<br />
for tourism.<br />
Manufacturing has many cross-sector linkages, and making it more resilient<br />
is critical to our future. And what about new sectors <strong>–</strong> does the creative<br />
industry present an opportunity?<br />
How will we achieve food security and counter the effects of climate<br />
change? We tackle these issues alongside improving energy efficiency and<br />
exploring renewable energy. Investment will be needed in all of these sectors <strong>–</strong><br />
InvesTT tells us how to attract this.<br />
We look forward to your feedback on this packed issue: let us know if<br />
you agree with what our experts say.<br />
Natalie Dookie, Editor<br />
On the cover<br />
Technology is already transforming every sector of our economy, and it will play a key<br />
role in diversification efforts, creating new industries and opportunities for solutionoriented<br />
entrepreneurs. On the cover, we feature three finalists in the Trinidad and<br />
Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce’s Business Technology Award 2018.<br />
WiPay has removed a significant barrier for online payments, offering great benefits for<br />
small- and medium-sized enterprises. Its free platform can be integrated into any merchant’s<br />
website to facilitate credit card payments. In 2016, WiPay also introduced its Top-Up Service,<br />
a form of digital cash, which offers financial inclusion for the unbanked or under-banked. It<br />
is now the number one online payment platform in the Caribbean.<br />
ShupHub.com is an e-commerce platform that brings together vendors and customers. Prior<br />
to its launch, there were hardly any portals available locally for vendors to distribute their<br />
goods and services online. Entrepreneurs will no longer need brick and mortar stores as<br />
this online platform allows them to market products throughout the Caribbean <strong>–</strong> this year,<br />
Shuphub’s service will be available in every Caricom territory.<br />
Sun Tixx provides a technology-driven service which manages the generation, distribution<br />
and sale of tickets for events. It uses secure ticketing and access control technology, making<br />
it easier for patrons to collect tickets and for event hosts to collect payments. Sun Tixx<br />
has expanded into St Lucia, St Vincent, Grenada and Barbados, becoming the largest ticket<br />
distribution network provider in the Caribbean.<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 7
Energy<br />
COURTESY PIXABAY.COM<br />
8 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
Energy<br />
The future<br />
of fossil fuels<br />
Trinidad and Tobago’s energy industry is more than a century old,<br />
and the country depends heavily on it for revenue. It will still have<br />
its place in the future economy, especially if its current constraints<br />
are addressed<br />
by Anthony Paul<br />
Principal Energy & Strategy Consultant,<br />
Association of Caribbean Energy Specialists Limited<br />
None of these factors suggests<br />
that the global life of oil and gas<br />
will be over in the next 50 years<br />
At government’s stated<br />
sustainable production levels<br />
of 4.2 billion cubic feet per<br />
day, new reserves may be able<br />
to support existing plants for<br />
decades to come<br />
To paraphrase Mark Twain: “The rumours of the death of oil are greatly<br />
exaggerated.”<br />
Outlooks for the global energy mix over the next 20 to 30 years, from<br />
major international oil and gas companies like BP, Equinor (formerly Statoil),<br />
ExxonMobil, Shell and Total, as well as consultancies, research institutions and<br />
the International Energy Agency, all point to a future where energy demand<br />
grows, and the greatest increase in market share is taken by renewables.<br />
Interestingly, in that same timeframe, while the share of oil and gas<br />
declines, actual demand for both is predicted to grow under current global<br />
policy scenarios, with gas replacing oil as an energy source to reduce harmful<br />
effects on the environment.<br />
As technology advances rapidly on many fronts, it makes renewables more<br />
efficient and competitive, and the discovery and production of more oil and gas<br />
easier; it also reduces the impact of fossil fuels on the environment.<br />
These factors point to a dynamic range of scenarios, none of which suggests<br />
that the global life of oil and gas will be over in the next 50 years. There is still<br />
enough time to invest and benefit.<br />
Maximising our remaining resources<br />
But what about Trinidad and Tobago? How long does our industry have again?<br />
The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries uses its annual Scott-Ryder<br />
audit to better understand the energy industry’s growth. This approach is an<br />
unnecessary public expenditure, as exploration companies are required to do<br />
the same, and the ministry has the authority to dictate how this is done so that<br />
it meets their requirements.<br />
Further, the approach taken grossly understates the potential of our already<br />
discovered fields and geological basins, dissuading investment in exploration<br />
and indigenous research and development. The reserves audit has limited scope,<br />
relative to the potential of the basins.<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 9
Blueprint for a Bold New Economy<br />
Oil and gas exploration and production opportunities<br />
10<br />
1. North Coast Marine Area: gas fields, deep water<br />
2. Northern Gulf of Paria / Northern Basin:<br />
small oil & gas fields, sub-anhydrite imaging<br />
3. Southern Gulf of Paria:<br />
enhanced imaging, deep drilling/older horizons, heavy oil, enhanced<br />
recovery, deeper and older (incl. cretaceous) prospects, stratigraphic plays<br />
4. Offshore South Coast:<br />
small gas & oil, enhanced imaging, cretaceous shelf edge<br />
5. Southern Basin:<br />
deeper and older (cretaceous) prospects, stripper fields, oil sands,<br />
enhanced recovery, 3D seismic for new projects, field extensions,<br />
stratigraphic plays<br />
6. Central Range Thrust Belt<br />
7. East Coast Shelf:<br />
deep drilling, small & medium sized gas fields,<br />
JV/farm-ins, enhanced recovery, shallow gas<br />
imaging challenges, possible participation in<br />
Venezuelan border fields, infrastructure-led E&P<br />
8. East Coast Slope:<br />
deep water, underexplored, adjacent to existing production<br />
& infrastructure (EC Slope)<br />
9. Ultra Deep Water, East Coast:<br />
oil - structural & stratigraphic traps (reservoir<br />
modelling & petroleum system research needed),<br />
natural gas/small field challenge, gas hydrates<br />
10. Tobago Trough:<br />
deep water, underexplored, continuation<br />
of C. Range/Angostura trend<br />
2<br />
3<br />
1<br />
4<br />
6<br />
5<br />
7<br />
8<br />
9<br />
Source: Association of Caribbean Energy Specialists Limited<br />
Fig. 1: Across multiple geological basins, Trinidad and Tobago still has a wide range of oil and gas exploration development and production opportunities.<br />
That said, in October 2018 the ministry announced that,<br />
according to the most recent audit, for the first time since<br />
2004 reserves had grown, with 154% replacement of<br />
reserves produced in 2017.<br />
This was welcome news, but Trinidad and Tobago<br />
still needs to take urgent steps to maximise its remaining<br />
energy resources, alongside investing capital to fund<br />
economic diversification.<br />
Aside from new exploration in deepwater acreage,<br />
Figure 1 shows other areas where oil and gas can be found<br />
including onshore, the Gulf of Paria, and shallow water off<br />
the north, east, and south coasts.<br />
The use of new technologies, field depletion policies<br />
consistent with national interests and industry best<br />
practice, suitable investors and/or commercial models,<br />
can enable production from small fields, lower pressured<br />
reservoirs, tight reservoirs, deeper older formations and<br />
trapping types, and heavy oil.<br />
In addition, by applying the phenomenon known as<br />
“creaming curve”, whereby oil and gas basins typically<br />
contain as much reserves in multiple small fields as<br />
they do in the few large ones, basin development would<br />
translate into over 50tcf in smaller pools, given currently<br />
producing fields.<br />
In a mature gas market like ours, small fields can be<br />
commercialised as their development is not burdened by<br />
the need to invest in pipelines and other infrastructure,<br />
or to guarantee the long-term supply needed to satisfy<br />
financing requirements for new plants.<br />
Given that our gas processing plants have mostly been<br />
paid off and are still relatively very efficient, they can<br />
compete with new plants in global markets, even with<br />
higher prices.<br />
Because our resources are mostly onshore and in<br />
shallow waters, they can provide opportunities for local<br />
investors, contractors and suppliers to participate, and for<br />
the government to give incentives for investment that can<br />
be translated into benefits to the economy via increased<br />
local revenue flows, taxes and employment.<br />
Indigenous supplies aside, development and exploration<br />
opportunities on the Venezuelan side of our borders<br />
can provide potential inputs for refining at Pointe-à-Pierre<br />
and Point Lisas, at costs lower than most other options<br />
<strong>–</strong> though geopolitics and uncertainty over the refinery<br />
present immediate challenges.<br />
Implementing these initiatives can bring tens of<br />
trillions of cubic feet to market. At the government’s stated<br />
sustainable production levels of 4.2 billion cubic feet per<br />
day of gas, new reserves may be able to support existing<br />
plants for decades to come.<br />
Positive developments taking place in Guyana and<br />
Suriname also present opportunities for the local sector to<br />
provide assistance in developing indigenous capabilities<br />
in services, skills enhancement, infrastructure and natural<br />
gas industries.<br />
Enhancing energy services for export<br />
How do we maximise our remaining resources, while ensuring<br />
the growth and development of domestic firms?<br />
As local reserves become depleted, the energy services<br />
sector will take on even greater importance. Enhancing<br />
competitiveness and investing in capacity development of<br />
10 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
Energy<br />
fabrication<br />
engineering &<br />
construction<br />
UPSTREAM ACTIVITIES<br />
subsurface<br />
services<br />
logistics-boats rigs/wells maintenance<br />
$ upstream spend<br />
job creation<br />
potential<br />
cyclical nature<br />
CHARACTERISTICS<br />
gas/oil price<br />
sensitivity<br />
value-added skill<br />
content<br />
innovation<br />
potential<br />
technology<br />
potential<br />
knowledge<br />
transferability<br />
non-energy<br />
transferability<br />
jv attractiveness<br />
High sustainability sectors High impact sectors High Moderate Low<br />
Fig. 2: Multiple areas have been identified for local content to support diversification. (Source: Association of Caribbean Energy Specialists Limited)<br />
local firms will be fundamental to improving their export<br />
capability.<br />
Although we have a robust local content policy and<br />
supporting regulations, foreign individuals and companies<br />
are often brought in to do work for which locals are fully<br />
capable and qualified. Other work that can and should be<br />
done here is sent overseas, thus facilitating revenue leakage,<br />
transfer pricing, and tax avoidance.<br />
The Trinidad and Tobago Local Content Policy of 2004<br />
identified areas in the oil and gas sector that had significant<br />
projected demand and could support the competitiveness<br />
of local companies, encouraging them to export their<br />
services, while contributing to diversification efforts.<br />
Work that can and should be done<br />
here is sent overseas, facilitating<br />
revenue leakage, transfer pricing,<br />
and tax avoidance<br />
Areas such as big data management, seismic processing,<br />
design engineering and fabrication were identified as<br />
opportunities, and were pursued to the extent that several<br />
international firms set up operations locally, some serving<br />
foreign-based clients while partnering with locals.<br />
Unfortunately, this initiative found itself on a collision<br />
course with the decision to engage Chinese contractors at<br />
the expense of local industry. The oil and gas local content<br />
policy was quarantined as a consequence, and the affected<br />
companies folded up.<br />
Policy decisions favouring mega-projects and foreign<br />
investment, preventing access to natural gas and gas-derived<br />
products, resulted in the door being shut on locals<br />
wanting to invest downstream in small plants to convert<br />
methanol and syngas by manufacturing, and small-scale<br />
LNG for export to regional markets.<br />
Figure 2 demonstrates how investment in high<br />
sustainability and high impact energy services can<br />
contribute to job creation and knowledge transfer.<br />
Improving administration and tax collection<br />
Aside from the direct impact on the economy and business,<br />
the energy sector traditionally provided the biggest share<br />
of government revenue and foreign exchange, until recent<br />
times. As highlighted at the Ministry of Energy and Energy<br />
Industries <strong>March</strong> 2018 “Spotlight on Energy”, failures in<br />
government taxation policy and tax collection resulted in<br />
over TT$120 billion of uncollected taxes.<br />
This tax avoidance was facilitated by weak regulatory<br />
capacity and governance systems. Recent assurances by<br />
the government that they are going after this, supported by<br />
bold, if long overdue, measures to institute a transparent<br />
and consistent royalty regime, will result in much more<br />
foreign exchange being available to the domestic economy.<br />
While these developments are encouraging, they do<br />
not do nearly enough to address the core issue that has<br />
plagued the industry and led to its slide. A woefully underresourced<br />
and opaque Ministry of Energy and Energy<br />
Industries, lacking in self-confidence, denuded of authority<br />
and perpetually avoiding the legal strictures in place to<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 11
Blueprint for a Bold New Economy<br />
Fig. 3: Recommended measures to increase activities, production and revenue in the T&T oil and gas sector.<br />
➤ Good governance<br />
• Clear, consistently applied policies<br />
• Enhanced institutional capacity<br />
i. Technical<br />
ii. Commercial (incl. negotiating)<br />
iii. Technology<br />
iv. Funding<br />
• Transparency & accountability, as prescribed by the<br />
Petroleum Act & Regulations<br />
• Enlightened tax regime <strong>–</strong> close loopholes<br />
• Industry standard procurement processes<br />
- Simple, predictable, transparent<br />
- Easy analysis and decision-making<br />
- Quick response<br />
➤ Clear exploration & depletion strategies<br />
• Resource management<br />
• Contract/licence management<br />
• Improved data availability<br />
➤ Indigenous R&D<br />
(T&T Ministry of Energy & Energy Industries has an R&D<br />
Fund in excess of TT$100 Million, that has not been used!)<br />
➤ Clear and consistently applied national priorities<br />
• Well defined expectations<br />
➤ Local Content & value addition<br />
• Access to product for value addition<br />
➤ Clear and transparent investor selection<br />
& partnering strategies<br />
➤ Rule of law<br />
Source: Association of Caribbean Energy Specialists Limited<br />
ensure it conducts its role in a transparent manner, must<br />
be fixed.<br />
With 100% excess power generating capacity fired by<br />
natural gas, the road to renewables is a policy minefield.<br />
Unless we are willing to think differently, make bold<br />
decisions and act decisively, we shall lose that battle. Ideas<br />
like selling electricity to industries in eastern Venezuela, or<br />
limiting CNG to just fleet vehicles and focusing instead on<br />
electric and hybrid vehicles for most other forms of private<br />
transport, should be explored.<br />
The way forward<br />
Implementation of the key measures in Figure 3 will<br />
ensure that Trinidad and Tobago’s oil and gas sector gets<br />
back onto a healthy growth path, and will provide the<br />
stimulus to diversifying the rest of the economy which we<br />
so desperately need.<br />
The Petrotrin situation brought the<br />
sector into the sharp glare of public<br />
scrutiny as nothing else has done for<br />
a long time<br />
Ongoing negotiations for contract extensions locally<br />
will allow government to leverage beneficiary clauses in<br />
existing agreements, such as the return of all assets to the<br />
state at the end of a contract’s life.<br />
We can also learn from Azerbaijan, where BP,<br />
ExxonMobil and partners recently paid US$3.2 billion<br />
into the Sovereign Wealth Fund in order to be allowed to<br />
continue exploiting producing fields.<br />
Service companies are required to be licensed and<br />
registered, and to pay taxes in Trinidad and Tobago. That<br />
is not happening reliably, so billions of dollars in profits<br />
have been untaxed. We need a stronger rule of law which<br />
enforces these regulations more effectively.<br />
In Azerbaijan, BP, ExxonMobil and<br />
partners recently paid US$3.2 billion<br />
into the Sovereign Wealth Fund, in<br />
order to be allowed to continue<br />
exploiting producing fields<br />
The Petrotrin situation brought the energy sector into the<br />
sharp glare of public scrutiny as nothing else has done for<br />
a long time. Decision-making without public consultation,<br />
when dealing with state assets, involves risk, if any lessons<br />
are to be learnt here.<br />
For further reading<br />
Oil to Gas and Beyond <strong>–</strong> A Review of the Trinidad and Tobago Model and<br />
Analysis of Future Challenges. Editors Trevor M. Boopsingh and Gregory Mc-<br />
Guire. University Press of America, 2014. See Chapter 7 (“Future Hydrocarbon<br />
Resources”) and Chapter 13 (“Taking Trinidad & Tobago Forward & Abroad <strong>–</strong><br />
The Technical Challenges”).<br />
12 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
KEVIN SAMMY
Blueprint for a Bold New Economy<br />
An inconvenient truth<br />
Trinidad and Tobago’s commodity-based economy is heavily<br />
reliant on global market prices, and continually caught in a<br />
cycle of boom and bust. What structural adjustment is needed<br />
to avoid future volatility?<br />
by Hayden Blades<br />
President, Business Insight Limited<br />
In Trinidad and Tobago, clarity regarding national objectives which define<br />
the way forward in a rapidly evolving global economic environment has all<br />
but escaped political and public discourse.<br />
Sensible macro-economic management in small open economies such as<br />
ours must achieve the following outcomes for long-term survival:<br />
• sustainable growth<br />
• general price stability<br />
• socially acceptable income distribution patterns<br />
• investor and consumer confidence.<br />
Trinidad and Tobago is a small,<br />
open, resource-rich economy with<br />
a narrow productive base<br />
The economy is subject to the extremes<br />
of a boom-bust-recovery-boom cycle<br />
In the absence of adequate economic<br />
growth, it is inevitable that unemployment<br />
will rise in Trinidad and Tobago<br />
Trinidad and Tobago is a small, open and resource-rich economy. Its narrow<br />
productive base is dominated by global market prices and the domestic output<br />
of its key export commodities <strong>–</strong> oil, gas and petrochemicals. This economic<br />
structure lacks diversification, and has fostered income, employment and<br />
inflation patterns that are closely correlated with the global market prices of<br />
carbon-based commodities.<br />
The economy has suffered from generally declining output levels in its<br />
dominant energy sector, further exacerbating the volatility of key economic<br />
aggregates such as real GDP growth, international reserves, public debt and<br />
sustainable employment levels. It is an economy subject to the extremes of a<br />
boom-bust-recovery-boom business cycle.<br />
Current economic assessment<br />
The inconvenient truth is that Trinidad and Tobago has not been proactive in<br />
structurally adjusting its energy-dependent economy to minimise volatility after<br />
more than 56 years of independence.<br />
Furthermore, the fiscal space does not easily accommodate necessary and<br />
sufficient public sector investment. Technological, knowledge-based industries,<br />
and arts, culture and entertainment industries, which all represent drivers of<br />
youth employment, are still in their infancy.<br />
An economy lacking growth<br />
In the absence of adequate economic growth, it is inevitable that unemployment<br />
will rise in Trinidad and Tobago, and this will be exacerbated if such conditions<br />
are prolonged. A further complication is the absence of a strong growth impetus<br />
from the energy sector; based on current output and price trends it is not<br />
expected to provide the growth stimulus it did in the recent past.<br />
With Trinidad and Tobago’s growth rate expected to creep to 2.13% by 2021<br />
(see graphic), restoration of economic growth ought to be the most important<br />
14 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
Business Environment<br />
pillar of any future fiscal package, with the role of the non-energy sector taking<br />
on even greater importance in stabilising and growing the economy. Currently,<br />
government is intensely focused on recovery of output in the energy sector,<br />
with some success, though the volatility of global market prices will create a<br />
significant headwind in this regard.<br />
Trinidad and Tobago: Growth rate of real gross domestic product (GDP)<br />
from 2012-2022 (compared to the previous year)<br />
2.7%<br />
1.71%<br />
1% 0.88%<br />
1.56%<br />
2.13%<br />
1.24%<br />
2012 2022<br />
-1.75%<br />
-1.19%<br />
-2.6%<br />
-6.08%<br />
Source: ©Statista <strong>2019</strong> <strong>–</strong> The Statistics Portal<br />
The intensity of government’s focus on the recovery of the energy sector<br />
must be replicated across the non-energy sector. The creation of an enabling<br />
environment that facilitates new and sustainable growth within the non-energy<br />
sector is therefore critical if we are to avoid:<br />
• persistent fiscal deficits and rising public debt<br />
• persistent balance of payment deficits and a weakened TT dollar<br />
• increasing rates of unemployment<br />
• low investor and consumer confidence<br />
• an economy perpetually confined to zero to low growth outcomes<br />
• lost generations of young citizens.<br />
Trinidad and Tobago’s economy comprises four critical sectors: energy,<br />
services, manufacturing and agriculture. Of these, services and energy have<br />
been the major contributors to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).<br />
In 2008, Trinidad and Tobago had an estimated GDP (at constant 2000<br />
prices) of TT$93,024.5 million, with the services and energy sector accounting<br />
for 51% and 40.3% of GDP respectively. The manufacturing and agriculture<br />
sectors contributed 8.4% and 0.5% to GDP. Since then, the economy has<br />
contracted and there have been adverse changes to its GDP composition.<br />
The creation of an enabling<br />
environment that facilitates<br />
new and sustainable growth<br />
within the non-energy sector is<br />
therefore critical<br />
The way forward<br />
Our services sector is robust and diverse, with each sub-sector contributing<br />
significantly to GDP. Although labour-intensive and a small contributor, the<br />
agriculture sector possesses significant opportunities for new growth and<br />
employment creation. Stimulating rapid agricultural growth will provide the<br />
opportunity to reduce our food import bill and create greater domestic price<br />
stability.<br />
Other sectors which hold prospects for new growth in new markets are<br />
manufacturing and tourism. However, the key to attaining sustainability, price<br />
stability, acceptable income distribution and market confidence will be the<br />
services sector, which can then support employment creation and growth in<br />
agriculture and manufacturing.<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 15
COURTESY FRANK MCKENNA / UNSPLASH.COM<br />
While agriculture, manufacturing and services can provide new<br />
platforms for economic growth and employment creation, this will<br />
require implementation of the appropriate policy framework<br />
FX-eating imports or FX-earning exports?<br />
Based on these characteristics, several national strategic<br />
issues come into focus:<br />
• What aspects of the services sector are exportable? How<br />
can these sub-sectors become more competitive, and do<br />
we have access to key markets, traditional and nontraditional?<br />
• How can the services sector be positioned to enhance<br />
growth in agriculture and manufacturing?<br />
• If sustainable job creation is predominantly located in<br />
the services sector, then what type of services and service<br />
providers should we develop?<br />
• Can we wean the exportable components of the services<br />
sector off state funding and thus create a cadre of competitive<br />
service providers who will strategically seek out<br />
export markets as part of well-crafted growth strategies?<br />
• Are we getting value for money from the services sector,<br />
both public and private, and is there a need to revisit<br />
the way in which we organise the production of services<br />
and manage service quality and consistency?<br />
Implementation deficit<br />
To avoid or minimise the implementation deficit, government<br />
must explicitly address these new sources of economic<br />
growth, even as we continue to diversify the energy sector<br />
and create higher value-added exports.<br />
This can be achieved through the establishment<br />
of tripartite sector working committees, supported by<br />
permanent secretaries. The output of these committees<br />
should be a list of short- and medium-term development<br />
strategies, to be adopted as government policy for execution<br />
by ministries.<br />
These working committees can include institutions such as:<br />
• the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI)<br />
• exportTT<br />
• business stakeholders such as Chambers of Commerce<br />
• Eximbank<br />
• the Bankers’ Association of Trinidad & Tobago<br />
• labour stakeholders<br />
• the tertiary sector<br />
• an industrial park operator<br />
• the Ministry of Trade and Industry.<br />
The creation of an enabling environment for growth<br />
and development of the non-energy sector ought to be<br />
prioritised as we seek to enhance competitiveness in<br />
traditional and non-traditional export markets. This<br />
enabling environment should address:<br />
• development of appropriate labour force skills<br />
• provision of funding for business growth and<br />
development (predominantly exportable sectors)<br />
• enhancing critical infrastructure<br />
• provision of key business support services.<br />
While agriculture, manufacturing and services<br />
can provide new platforms for economic growth and<br />
employment creation, this will require implementation<br />
of the appropriate policy framework and a commitment<br />
to enhancing compet-iveness, both on a national level<br />
and at the level of the individual firm.<br />
16 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
Services<br />
COURTESY CHRISTINA MORELLO / PEXELS.COM<br />
18 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
Services<br />
Selling<br />
our services<br />
The services sector is turning in a strong performance, but is yet<br />
to become a viable exporter. A national exporters’ services registry<br />
and export training are just two of the initiatives TTCSI will launch<br />
in <strong>2019</strong> to help grow the services economy<br />
by Vashti G. Guyadeen<br />
General Manager,<br />
Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries<br />
This year’s World Economic Forum held in Switzerland in January focused<br />
on the “Industrial Revolution 4.0”. This refers to the significant role that<br />
automation and data analytics play in transforming manufacturing<br />
processes.<br />
IR 4.0 has not only impacted manufacturing. According to Professor<br />
Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, “the Fourth<br />
Industrial Revolution, finally, will change not only what we do but also who<br />
we are.<br />
“It will affect our identity and all the issues associated with it: our sense<br />
of privacy, our notions of ownership, our consumption patterns, the time we<br />
devote to work and leisure, and how we develop our careers, cultivate our skills,<br />
meet people, and nurture relationships.”<br />
Without a doubt, IR 4.0 will also impact the services sector. The question<br />
is, how prepared are Trinidad and Tobago services providers and industries for<br />
these changes?<br />
But despite the services sector showing<br />
a strong performance locally, it is yet to<br />
become a viable foreign exchange earner:<br />
its export performance has been poor compared<br />
with manufacturing and energy<br />
Strong local performance<br />
In Trinidad and Tobago, services’ contribution to GDP in 2017 was estimated<br />
at 50.8%, while agriculture and industry stood at 0.4% and 48.8% respectively<br />
(TTCSI, 2016). The services sector, unlike the hydrocarbon sector, has<br />
experienced significant growth despite external shocks attributed to the recent<br />
fall in global oil prices.<br />
But despite a strong performance locally, the sector is yet to become a<br />
viable foreign exchange earner: its export performance has been poor compared<br />
with manufacturing and energy. While the sector has been earmarked to fasttrack<br />
national diversification, it falls short in its ability to increase its trade and<br />
earning power <strong>–</strong> a situation reflected in Trinidad and Tobago’s negative trade<br />
balance (exports minus imports) in international trade in services.<br />
For the period 2011 to 2016, there was a reported negative trade balance<br />
in regard to international trade in services, with services accounting for only<br />
28% of exports in 2011 (TTCSI, 2016). Clearly there are great opportunities to<br />
accelerate growth in the services sector.<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 19
Blueprint for a Bold New Economy<br />
We have a comparative advantage in<br />
several sub-sectors including education<br />
services; cultural and creative services;<br />
professional services; and health services<br />
Net importer of services<br />
The European Union, in an assessment of the Economic Partnership Agreement<br />
(EPA) with Cariforum, noted that international trade in services has assumed<br />
a significant dimension in the sustainable development and economic growth<br />
strategies of Cariforum states, and commitments in external trade arrangements<br />
are critical in advancing the region’s prospects.<br />
The data in Table 1 show that Trinidad and Tobago is a net importer of<br />
services. However, in relative terms we are also a key exporter of services<br />
compared with other Cariforum states.<br />
Trinidad and Tobago’s primary services exports are travel, transport and<br />
commercial services. We also have a comparative advantage in several subsectors<br />
including education services; cultural and creative services; professional<br />
services; and health services. It is imperative that support systems and the<br />
enabling environment are developed to foster growth in these sectors<br />
Table 1: Cariforum states <strong>–</strong> value of services exports and imports, 2016-2017<br />
Country Value of services exports (million US$) Value of services imports (million US$)<br />
Barbados (2016) 1,483 743<br />
Dominican Republic (2017) 8,476 3,354<br />
Guyana (2017) 134 453<br />
Jamaica (2017) 3,432 2,242<br />
Suriname (2017) 145 516<br />
Trinidad and Tobago (2017) 1,076 2,500<br />
The key ingredient in “going global” is<br />
ensuring that service providers and<br />
industries meet global standards and<br />
certification<br />
Source: World Trade Organisation<br />
Championing the services sector<br />
The Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI) will embark<br />
on a number of initiatives in <strong>2019</strong> to propel growth in the services economy.<br />
Foremost on the agenda is data analytics. One of the key projects we have<br />
undertaken, with the support of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, is the<br />
development of a national exporters’ services registry. This will be invaluable in<br />
measuring the sector and giving government and the TTCSI better information,<br />
in order to provide knowledge-driven products which stimulate growth.<br />
Secondly, the TTCSI will execute a robust training schedule this year,<br />
including rollout of the Services Go Global (SGG) training programme. SGG<br />
was developed by Caribbean Export over eight years ago specifically to optimise<br />
the Cariforum region’s export of services. It aimed to develop the capacity of<br />
service providers and industries to capitalise on opportunities under the EPA,<br />
with a focus on export readiness.<br />
Participants will be guided through a four-stage road map showing how<br />
to propel their businesses onto the international stage. The TTCSI is the only<br />
certified agency locally to offer this training. SGG will be conducted in four<br />
sector clusters <strong>–</strong> creative and cultural industries including animation; tourism;<br />
health and wellness; and energy services.<br />
The key ingredient in “going global” is ensuring that service providers<br />
and industries meet global standards and certification. This issue is also being<br />
tackled by the TTCSI, and plans are in train to collaborate with the relevant<br />
agencies to ensure that our member associations and their members are<br />
equipped to trade regionally and globally.<br />
20 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
Tourism<br />
Where are<br />
all the tourists?<br />
Travel and tourism contribute less than 10% to Trinidad and Tobago’s GDP.<br />
There were high expectations with the possibility of Sandals adding its<br />
brand to the sector. But why do we need a big name?<br />
by John Bell<br />
Past Director General and CEO, Caribbean Hotel Association<br />
and past President, International Hotel and Restaurant Association<br />
LIDIAN NEELEMAN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM<br />
The best way to assess whether tourism has any real chance of success in<br />
Trinidad and Tobago is to determine the condition of the industry today<br />
in both islands. With that as a basis we can then project into the future.<br />
There can be little doubt that tourism is presently not much more than a<br />
basket case in Tobago, or that we have two quite separate island destinations<br />
to address.<br />
Current state of tourism<br />
Are we presently in any position to consider tourism as a viable financial<br />
opportunity? Let’s begin with Tobago.<br />
• Arrivals in Tobago in 2005 were slightly over 90,000. Today they are well<br />
under 20,000<br />
• As a consequence of this precipitous collapse in traffic there has been<br />
a decline in maintenance of the hotel stock, which has deteriorated<br />
significantly<br />
• In 2018 the efficiency and effectiveness of the seabridge has been<br />
disastrous<br />
• Airlift into Tobago out of the USA is virtually non-existent<br />
• The condition of the ANR Robinson International Airport at Crown Point<br />
is reminiscent of the mid-20th century in the Windward Islands.<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 23
CHRIS ANDERSON
Tourism<br />
Now let’s review Trinidad:<br />
• With meetings and conventions growing in Port of<br />
Spain, there is a real prospect that conference tourism<br />
can be further developed<br />
• Adventure tourism is evolving slowly, but sadly with<br />
limited support thus far from Tourism Trinidad Limited<br />
• Sports tourism is also evolving slowly as a result of<br />
the government’s stadium construction programme<br />
• Golf in Trinidad remains dormant<br />
• Apart from carnival, cultural tourism remains<br />
undeveloped<br />
• Despite their obvious value, and access to several<br />
suitable bodies of water, watersports activity is sadly<br />
depressed.<br />
Restructuring the sector<br />
In short, it seems there has been little or no planned<br />
development in tourism on either island, leaving the<br />
nature of the industry speculative at best. But this should<br />
not deter us from thinking big about where tourism can<br />
and should go.<br />
Last year there was a welcome reorganisation of the<br />
government’s administration of the tourism sector. After<br />
several years of mismanagement, the Tourism Development<br />
Company Limited (TDC) was closed down and replaced<br />
by Tobago Tourism Agency Limited and Tourism Trinidad<br />
Limited.<br />
In Tobago at least, there was recognition that the private<br />
sector was a major player in the game, with several<br />
key appointments being made to the agency’s board.<br />
In short it seems there has been little<br />
or no planned development in tourism<br />
on either island, leaving the nature of<br />
the industry speculative at best<br />
The Sandals saga<br />
So what are the prospects for the future?<br />
A great deal seemed to depend on Sandals, which<br />
presented an exciting prospect for launching Tobago into<br />
the “real” Caribbean tourism world.<br />
There is no doubt that tourism, particularly in the<br />
northern Caribbean, has evolved separately into something<br />
quite different from what we know in Trinidad and Tobago.<br />
Tobago has long been a success story waiting to<br />
happen. The island is scenically beautiful. It has magnificent<br />
beaches and a splendid reef. Previous attempts<br />
at tourism development have resulted in two golf courses.<br />
The real problem is the airport at Crown Point, which is<br />
hopelessly inadequate.<br />
Which brings us back to the contentious issue of<br />
Sandals.<br />
A great deal seemed to depend on<br />
Sandals, which presented an exciting<br />
prospect for launching Tobago into<br />
the “real” Caribbean tourism world<br />
Benefits of a big brand<br />
The benefit of a 900-room state-of-the-art resort opening<br />
in Tobago appeared to be enormous. Sandals offered a<br />
valuable grown-up couples experience, while its twin<br />
sister, Beaches, promised a full-blown family programme.<br />
It seemed that Tobago might at last acquire a property<br />
of the kind that Jamaica, Dominican Republic and The<br />
Bahamas have long hosted.<br />
And that was only the beginning. The overriding<br />
value that Sandals would have been able to provide was<br />
airlift access out of the United States.<br />
Sandals had the potential to attract American Airlines<br />
to Tobago out of its Miami hub. JetBlue would have been<br />
able to provide access from New York and the tri-state<br />
area. United Airlines might also have been attracted to<br />
serve Tobago out of Washington DC, Newark, or Houston.<br />
But the United States, with all its up-market worth<br />
and two or even three new gateways, remains completely<br />
closed to Tobago.<br />
The projects and developments cited<br />
above are still very much needed to<br />
establish our tourism offering on the<br />
global stage. With the right marketing<br />
strategy, infrastructure and political<br />
will, accomplishing all of them is still<br />
entirely possible<br />
The government was prepared to provide Sandals with<br />
a location at Golden Grove, and the valuable asset that<br />
goes with that. So there was a very real expectation that<br />
the Sandals development would set off a chain reaction,<br />
stimulating development in the rest of Tobago. The ANR<br />
Robinson International Airport at Crown Point would have<br />
become a real international port of entry.<br />
However, Sandals pulled out of the Tobago deal.<br />
But all is not lost. The projects and developments cited<br />
above are still very much needed to establish Trinidad and<br />
Tobago’s tourism offering on the global stage. With the<br />
right marketing strategy, infrastructure, and political will,<br />
accomplishing all of them is still entirely possible.<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 25
Blueprint for a Bold New Economy<br />
Manufacturing the future<br />
An improved trading environment is needed to<br />
create a sustainable resilient manufacturing sector.<br />
Tackling bureaucratic challenges, illicit trade and<br />
an uncertain industrial relations climate are high<br />
on the TTMA’s agenda<br />
by The Trinidad and Tobago<br />
Manufacturers’ Association<br />
It is no secret that business conditions in the Trinidad<br />
and Tobago economy are less than ideal. The Central<br />
Bank reported in its last monetary policy announcement<br />
(December 2018) that “primary economic indicators are<br />
all down as growth has slackened and inflation remains<br />
sluggish because of weak domestic demand”.<br />
The manufacturing sector provides<br />
the necessary foundation for an<br />
economically, socially and environmentally<br />
sustainable society<br />
In an environment with slow economic growth, the<br />
Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association<br />
(TTMA) believes there is an urgent need to explore new<br />
opportunities in the manufacturing sector, which has the<br />
potential to contribute to positive economic growth and<br />
development.<br />
The manufacturing sector goes far beyond the<br />
employees, companies and investors directly involved<br />
in industry. It affects everyone. Defined by the TTMA as<br />
including all the non-energy sub-sectors, it provides the<br />
necessary foundation for an economically, socially and<br />
environmentally sustainable society. Manufacturing also<br />
drives technological innovation <strong>–</strong> the key to research<br />
and development <strong>–</strong> and the creation of new products and<br />
manufacturing processes.<br />
While the sector is critical to the local economy, it<br />
faces many challenges, one of which is operating in a<br />
dual economy that relies heavily on oil and gas revenues.<br />
The inability of the manufacturing sector’s contribution to<br />
Trinidad and Tobago’s GDP, to move beyond 9% for the<br />
past ten years indicates stagnation. This is the result of<br />
several factors, including poor policy infrastructure and<br />
too many bureaucratic procedures that cause delays or<br />
bottlenecks.<br />
Bureaucratic agencies and procedures<br />
Manufacturers are critical of the regulatory bodies<br />
that support the trading environment, because of their<br />
recurring inability to function efficiently and effectively.<br />
A number of agencies play key roles in fostering an<br />
enabling environment, but they are plagued by a lack<br />
of human and financial resources, and lack of access to<br />
technological advances, which can result in delays in<br />
trading both locally and internationally.<br />
Another concern of local producers is the growth<br />
of illicit trade, which has a negative impact on local<br />
manufacturing. Every year, more goods and brands are<br />
affected, from consumer products <strong>–</strong> including electronics,<br />
apparel and alcoholic beverages <strong>–</strong> to vehicle lubricants<br />
and auto parts. This undermines legitimate manufacturers,<br />
as illicit goods are cheaper on the local market. Most of the<br />
illicit traders do not pay the correct duties, and if goods<br />
are smuggled in, they do not pay any duties at all. In some<br />
instances goods do not meet national standards, and in<br />
others they do not even have free sale certificates in their<br />
countries of origin.<br />
Agencies are plagued by the lack of<br />
human and financial resources, and lack<br />
of access to technological advances,<br />
which can result in delays in<br />
trading both locally and internationally<br />
Improving industrial relations<br />
According to local producers, labour force issues are also<br />
affecting the manufacturing sector. For example, when<br />
job openings are not filled and the work force lacks the<br />
skill sets that the market needs, manufacturers cannot<br />
maintain or increase production levels to satisfy customer<br />
demand. The fragile industrial climate of Trinidad and<br />
Tobago along with the uncertain relations between<br />
employers and employees, has had a negative impact on<br />
the manufacturing sector and the overall economy.<br />
Additionally, local companies face considerable<br />
barriers to trade when exporting. The lack of market<br />
intelligence, lengthy registration procedures, and onerous<br />
labelling requirements, are some of the major concerns for<br />
firms which aim to become net foreign exchange earners<br />
and fully contribute to the local economy.<br />
26 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
1968 / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM<br />
Resilient manufacturing<br />
In spite of these challenges, there are real opportunities<br />
in the manufacturing sector. The food and beverage<br />
sub-sector, for example, is dynamic and innovative. In<br />
2018, a 5.6% increase in food, beverage and tobacco production<br />
demonstrated its continued growth. There are also<br />
opportunities in chemicals, printing and packaging, and<br />
construction.<br />
In order for these opportunities to advance, however,<br />
a resilient, sustainable manufacturing environment needs<br />
to be developed. Certain strategic initiatives are required:<br />
• a globally competitive regulatory framework<br />
• improved performance by government processes<br />
• a supportive international trade position.<br />
A resilient, sustainable manufacturing<br />
environment needs to be developed<br />
The bottom line<br />
Every economic sector faces challenges, and the<br />
manufacturing sector is no exception. The TTMA<br />
believes that the way in which the challenges of the<br />
manufacturing sector are addressed holds the key to<br />
progress. The above recommendations can go a long<br />
way in building a future sustainable economy and contributing<br />
to economic growth.<br />
Other key prerequisites for success include:<br />
• the development of a science, technology<br />
and innovation policy which promotes local<br />
manufacturing<br />
• promotion of innovative/technological<br />
entrepreneurship<br />
• adoption of an education and workforce policy<br />
that develops superior talent<br />
• furtherance of economic diversification strategies<br />
• more collaboration between manufacturers and<br />
universities.<br />
chamber.org.tt <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
27
COURTESY THE LUSH KINGDOM
Creativity<br />
Empowering<br />
our artists<br />
The creative sector was identified by Trinidad<br />
and Tobago as a priority sector for growth in<br />
2011. What has it achieved since then, and how<br />
far does it still have to go to become a viable<br />
contributor to GDP?<br />
by Keith Nurse<br />
Senior Fellow and WTO Chair<br />
Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies,<br />
The University of the West Indies<br />
Alicia Shepherd<br />
Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies,<br />
The University of the West Indies<br />
The Caribbean region is by no means short of globally recognisable artists;<br />
and for decades now Trinidad and Tobago has stood out as one of the<br />
region’s major artistic sources, with the likes of Michel-Jean Cazabon, Sir<br />
Vidia S Naipaul, Sparrow, Geoffrey Holder, Boscoe Holder, Billy Ocean, Peter<br />
Minshall, Heather Headley, Nicki Minaj, Meiling, Bunji Garlin, and Machel<br />
Montano.<br />
These artists have generated global reach beyond what the country’s<br />
size would suggest. And in recent times, new digital, mobile and internet<br />
technologies have offered creatives alternative business models and markets,<br />
creating the space for new areas of employment such as animation and gaming.<br />
In recognition of the industries’ vast<br />
potential, Caribbean governments have<br />
recently begun to carve out strategic<br />
pathways to develop the industries with<br />
the aim of diversifying their economies<br />
Growth of the sector<br />
By way of contributions to GDP, exports, employment and intellectual property<br />
earnings, the cultural/creative industries, even amidst global economic setbacks,<br />
continue to outperform most other sectors in Caribbean economies. In tandem<br />
with other key stakeholders, and in recognition of the industries’ vast potential,<br />
Caribbean governments have recently begun to carve out strategic pathways to<br />
develop the industries with the aim of diversifying their economies.<br />
The government of Trinidad and Tobago, for example, in 2010 highlighted<br />
the creative industries as growth poles in its quest for “consensus building,<br />
advanced social and economic prosperity and sustainability, and successful<br />
diversification” (GORTT 2011).<br />
Capturing carnival’s contribution<br />
The country’s carnival activities, for instance, generate on average about 12%<br />
of arrivals and visitor expenditures on an annual basis, a spectacular return<br />
on investment considering its official events span a three-week period. Its<br />
impact on other sectors such as media, retail, food and beverage, and ground<br />
Striking design from the Lush<br />
Kingdom fashion label<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 29
Blueprint for a Bold New Economy<br />
transport are also quite significant. In 2017, the estimated<br />
total visitor expenditure was measured at US$50 million.<br />
The country’s carnival activities, for<br />
instance, generate on average about 12%<br />
of arrivals and visitor expenditures on an<br />
annual basis<br />
It can be argued that through their synergistic relationships<br />
with other sectors in the local economy, the creative<br />
industries rank among the top revenue earners in Trinidad<br />
and Tobago. In 2006, the music industry was reported as<br />
having earned US$28.2 million and employed some 5,500<br />
people. In film, between 2007 and 2016, foreign filming<br />
on the island contributed some TT$37 million.<br />
Trade flows<br />
According to the Minister of Planning and Development,<br />
Camille Robinson-Regis, the internet technology sector,<br />
which has significant influence in the creative industries,<br />
has the potential to surpass its present contribution to GDP<br />
of TT$5.5 billion (CreativeTT, Trinidad Guardian 2018).<br />
Invariably, the spend in these and other creative industries<br />
doesn’t capture the synergistic impact of intellectual<br />
property branding and destination branding.<br />
On closer examination of trade flows, however,<br />
Trinidad and Tobago is found to have a substantial and<br />
widening trade deficit in cultural goods. We import more<br />
than we export. Trade in services (e.g. live performances,<br />
tours, concerts, designers’ fees etc.) and earnings from<br />
cultural, heritage and festival tourism are the significant<br />
sources of export earnings; but unfortunately these are<br />
the areas where there is limited reporting and data capture,<br />
and so the sector is not adequately represented in national<br />
accounts. Other challenges to business development<br />
include the lack of access to fintech services and capital<br />
from the local financial sector.<br />
On closer examination of trade flows,<br />
however, Trinidad and Tobago is found to<br />
have a substantial and widening trade<br />
deficit in cultural goods<br />
Going forward, there is need for governmental<br />
agencies to monitor and evaluate<br />
existing policies and support mechanisms,<br />
and to allocate greater capital investment<br />
There has also been growth in the festivals sector (e.g.<br />
the Bocas Literary Festival, the Trinidad and Tobago Film<br />
Festival, Animae Caribe) and in the export expansion of<br />
some sectors, particularly mas (carnival), fashion, music,<br />
animation and film.<br />
Export facilitation by way of entities such as<br />
CreativeTT, exporTT, TTBizLink, the drafting of a<br />
national cultural policy, and the Cariforum-EU Economic<br />
Partnership Agreement (EPA) also create valuable space<br />
for industry expansion.<br />
Outlook<br />
Going forward, there is need for governmental agencies<br />
to monitor and evaluate existing policies and support<br />
mechanisms, allocate greater capital investment, and<br />
provide adequate and appropriate training programmes<br />
for both business start-up and business expansion.<br />
Another critical area is financial sector reform to<br />
reflect the needs of this industry. Such approaches would<br />
require the collaboration of key stakeholders, the mapping<br />
of sectoral performance, digital innovation, and the<br />
adoption of a managerial culture that prioritises improved<br />
quality and global competitiveness.<br />
References<br />
“Businesses get $3.2 million for innovation”. Trinidad Guardian, May 4, 2018.<br />
Accessed August 30, 2018. http://www/guardian.co.tt/business/2018-04-15/<br />
businesses-get-32m-innovation<br />
CreativeTT, accessed January 1, 2018. http://www.musictt.co.tt/ and http://<br />
www.filmtt.co.tt/<br />
Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Ministry of Planning<br />
and the Economy, Mid-Term Policy Framework 2011-2014, Innovation for<br />
Lasting Prosperity. Accessed November 21, 2018. http://www.finance.gov.tt/<br />
wp-content/uploads2013/11/medium-Term-Policy-Framework-2011-14.pdf<br />
Recommendations and next steps<br />
Nonetheless, strategies followed in previous years have<br />
yielded positive outcomes.<br />
The Copyright Music Organisation of Trinidad and<br />
Tobago (COTT), for example, has been critical in areas of<br />
revenue generation by securing royalty income for authors<br />
and composers, and in the deepening of the institutional<br />
structure of the sector. As the global cultural economy is<br />
further aligned with digital trade, the role of COTT and<br />
digital aggregators will become even more important.<br />
30 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
Creativity<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 31
MARCI PARAVIA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM<br />
32 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
Agriculture and Food Security<br />
Towards a renaissance<br />
of agriculture<br />
If there is one good thing to come from climate change, it will be a<br />
radical rethink of agriculture and agro-processing and a shift towards<br />
a “climate-smart” industry<br />
by Steve Maximay<br />
Managing Director, Science-Based Initiatives<br />
You could be forgiven for for thinking you have heard this talk about<br />
diversification before. Successive, but by no means successful,<br />
governments have touted diversification efforts, which included<br />
agriculture as part of a magical restructuring of the Trinidad and Tobago<br />
economy.<br />
Early efforts were concentrated on producing more food to offset the<br />
ever-increasing import bill and to bolster exports. Prior to the volatile food<br />
price crisis of 2008-2009, the Trinidad and Tobago government’s idea of food<br />
security revolved around “months of cover”, where the amount of foreign<br />
exchange held in the Central Bank was divided by the monthly food import<br />
bill to determine how many months of imports were achievable.<br />
Once worldwide food prices and food availability returned to less<br />
cataclysmic levels by 2010, the prioritising of substantial local production<br />
became less important.<br />
A review of agricultural trade statistics, local production data, pronouncements<br />
by officials, and the heralded benefits of diversification, is<br />
insufficient to explain the lack of success to date. It will take more than an<br />
urgent need, worthwhile individual efforts, fledgling agro-industrial enterprises,<br />
and a declining oil and gas sector to propel agriculture to equitable stature<br />
within the local economy.<br />
At the core of diversification is change, which is dependent on the<br />
production of a “positive vision of the future”, which in turn evolves when<br />
dissatisfaction with the status quo exceeds the natural human resistance to<br />
change. It is safe to conclude that, notwithstanding the work of the Vision<br />
2020 agriculture sub-committee and other attempts at articulating a vision of<br />
a modern agricultural sector, the outlook is still less than positive.<br />
Notwithstanding the work of the Vision<br />
2020 agriculture sub-committee and<br />
other attempts at articulating a vision of<br />
a modern agricultural sector, the outlook<br />
is less than positive<br />
Climate-smart agriculture<br />
Previous attempts at diversification were ostensibly driven by economic<br />
development, but the <strong>2019</strong> version must be circumscribed by climate concerns.<br />
Diversification will not only be about change, but about climate change.<br />
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)<br />
describes economic diversification as “the process of shifting an economy<br />
away from a single income source toward multiple sources from a growing<br />
range of sectors and markets”. Traditionally, it has been applied as a strategy<br />
to encourage positive economic growth and development.<br />
In the context of climate change adaptation, diversification takes on a new<br />
relevance as a strategy to move away from vulnerable products, markets, and<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 33
CHRIS ANDERSON<br />
Bold New Economy<br />
<br />
Local produce at the Arima market<br />
jobs towards income sources that are low-emission and more climate-resilient.<br />
It is in that context that agriculture and agro-industry will continue to<br />
attract the kind of propulsion needed to attain pride of place. Adapting to<br />
climate change will necessitate the type of climate-smart agriculture that is<br />
steadily being incorporated into local agricultural efforts.<br />
The current dean of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture at The University<br />
of the West Indies, St Augustine, Dr Wayne Ganpat, understands this. In 2018<br />
the Faculty hosted a very successful international conference on “Climate<br />
Change Impacts on Food and Nutrition Security”, showcasing the ongoing<br />
efforts of UWI and other stakeholders.<br />
There are significant, designated, international resources for industry<br />
support to make local agriculture and agro-industry more climate-resilient.<br />
On a positive note, the UNFCCC’s Green Climate Fund opened a regional office<br />
in Grenada last year. Trinidad and Tobago has yet to meaningfully engage with<br />
its team for project support.<br />
The nascent local agriculture sector<br />
will be predominantly a producer of<br />
goods enhancing food security<br />
Resource conservation<br />
Pursuant to a positive vision of the future, local production efforts should<br />
be concentrated in two symbiotic streams: intensive production for nutrition<br />
security, and specialised/niche production for value-added export.<br />
One challenge which Trinidad and Tobago faces is that it does not have the<br />
land area to produce commodities for export, as Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley<br />
reminded us in 2018. There is not enough land for agriculture to compete<br />
successfully on the global stage. Therefore the nascent local agriculture sector<br />
will be predominantly a producer of goods enhancing food security, with a<br />
significant trade in services.<br />
The future agriculture sector will include intensified crop and livestock<br />
production which will require rationalised use of land, water, energy, and other<br />
inputs produced by using fossil fuels. Practitioners will increasingly need to<br />
monitor resource conservation, safety, biodiversity support, and greenhouse<br />
gas emissions.<br />
The major production of carbohydrates will be via root crops that feed into<br />
the processing industries. The preponderance of animal protein will be sourced<br />
from small ruminants including neo-tropicals, pigs and poultry. Refitted grain<br />
legume and vegetable production, using layered and vertical multi-crop systems,<br />
34 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
Agriculture and Food Security<br />
NHATTALLI/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM<br />
will provide the protein and vitamin components of the<br />
nutrition security project.<br />
The devastating floods of 2018 and other<br />
challenges including praedial larceny<br />
and land availability will make businessas-usual<br />
a very costly option<br />
Skill-sets<br />
There is an expanding reservoir of technical expertise<br />
to service the climate-smart agriculture required for the<br />
future. There are internationally recognised experts based<br />
in Trinidad and Tobago. Prominent examples are: Erle<br />
Rahaman-Noronha of Wa Samaki Ecosystems, Alpha Sennon of Whyfarm, and<br />
Wendy Lee Yuen of El Carmen Estate.<br />
Climate change impacts will provide the external stimuli needed for the<br />
agriculture sector’s realignment. In addition, Trinidad and Tobago is likely to<br />
move forward if there is an articulated, attainable vision for the sector. The<br />
devastating floods of 2018 and other challenges including praedial larceny<br />
and land availability will make business-as-usual a very costly option.<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 35
Blueprint for a Bold New Economy<br />
The challenge of<br />
renewable energy<br />
Depleting oil and gas resources, and a 79% growth in Trinidad and Tobago’s<br />
carbon footprint: these alone should provide enough impetus to resolve the<br />
many problems associated with renewable energy and energy efficiency<br />
by Dr Zaffar Khan<br />
Programme Director<br />
UWI-Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business<br />
Atiyyah A. Khan<br />
Energy Consultant<br />
Econsultants Limited<br />
For fifteen years, Trinidad and Tobago has been adversely affected by<br />
natural gas curtailment issues, despite recent increased production<br />
resulting from attractive capital allowances in the oil and gas fiscal<br />
regime.<br />
In addition, the recently signed MOU with Venezuela for the supply of<br />
natural gas has its risks and challenges, especially in terms of security of supply<br />
and regional geopolitical considerations.<br />
Fig. 1: Trinidad and Tobago’s high energy<br />
consumption per capita in kilograms of oil<br />
equivalent in comparison to other countries<br />
Nations using the most energy<br />
United Arab Emirates<br />
Kuwait<br />
Trinidad and Tobago<br />
Canada<br />
United States<br />
Finland<br />
Sweden<br />
Belgium<br />
Australia<br />
Saudi Arabia<br />
5,754<br />
5,701<br />
5,668<br />
5,607<br />
9,707<br />
9,566<br />
8,553<br />
8,240<br />
7,843<br />
7,204<br />
Source: Ugursal 2011; Wall Street Journal 2013<br />
Trinidad and Tobago’s low electricity<br />
cost of US$0.06/kWh in some cases is<br />
at least ten times cheaper than other<br />
Caribbean and Latin American countries<br />
Trinidad and Tobago has the third highest energy consumption per capita in<br />
kilograms of oil equivalent in the world (Figure 1), and currently uses natural<br />
gas to generate most of its electricity. While natural gas is the cleanest of all<br />
the fossil fuels, it emits atmospheric greenhouse gases. This, coupled with the<br />
CO 2<br />
emissions from the transport sector, has led to a 79% growth in our local<br />
carbon footprint (Figure 2).<br />
36 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
Renewable Energy<br />
Fig. 2: Estimated levels of carbon emissions<br />
(million metric tonnes) from Trinidad and<br />
Tobago’s transport sector, 2002-08<br />
2.4<br />
2.31<br />
2.13<br />
2.15<br />
2.0<br />
1.97<br />
1.76<br />
1.6<br />
1.67<br />
Jan ‘04<br />
Jan ‘06 Jan ‘08<br />
Source: US Energy Information Administration 2013<br />
It is therefore essential for Trinidad and Tobago to urgently increase its use of<br />
renewable energy (RE) and develop its energy efficiency (EE) initiatives. These<br />
will provide the following benefits:<br />
• lower levels of energy consumption, resulting in lower energy bills for<br />
residential, commercial and industrial consumers, which can improve<br />
the reliability of the electricity generation, transmission and distribution<br />
system<br />
• reduced need for investment in new power generation infrastructure<br />
• new employment opportunities, from research and development to manufacturing.<br />
Fig. 3: Comparison between Trinidad and Tobago and<br />
other developing nations in terms of trends between<br />
GDP growth per capita and carbon intensity growth<br />
42,000<br />
3.5<br />
2.10<br />
25.0<br />
22.5<br />
15.0<br />
Trinidad and Tobago<br />
has increased its<br />
carbon footprint by<br />
79% because both its<br />
GDP per capita and<br />
its carbon intensity<br />
have increased.<br />
12.5<br />
Trinidad<br />
and Tobago<br />
Developing<br />
countries<br />
16,800<br />
12,600<br />
8,400<br />
4,200<br />
0.70<br />
0.35 2.5<br />
Developing countries<br />
have increased their<br />
carbon footprint by<br />
41.2% because its GDP<br />
per capita has increased<br />
faster than its carbon<br />
intensity has decreased.<br />
GDP per capita<br />
PPP US$<br />
CO 2<br />
emissions refer to energyrelated<br />
emissions. Emissions from<br />
deforestation are not included.<br />
Carbon intensity of growth<br />
CO 2<br />
emissions per unit of GDP<br />
Kt CO 2<br />
per million 2000 PPP US$)<br />
Carbon footprint<br />
CO 2<br />
emissions per capita<br />
(t CO 2<br />
)<br />
Source: United Nations Development Programme 2013<br />
Barriers to RE and EE development<br />
Despite its many benefits, the implementation of local RE and EE initiatives is<br />
challenging. The sector is hampered by several barriers (Figure 3):<br />
• high capital and transaction costs<br />
• the low price of electricity and fuel as a result of energy subsidies<br />
• inability to implement appropriate legislation and regulations<br />
• limited government support via fiscal incentives<br />
• lack of public awareness<br />
• limited access to EE technologies and measures<br />
Source: UN Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change 2010<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 37
Blueprint for a Bold New Economy<br />
These obstacles increase the financial risks associated with<br />
RE and EE investments.<br />
electricity” (Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago 2013),<br />
which is hostile to EE and must change.<br />
Barriers<br />
Fig. 4: Barriers to renewable energy and<br />
energy efficiency in Trinidad and Tobago<br />
Technical<br />
Economic<br />
Political<br />
Social<br />
Natural conditions<br />
Technological constraints<br />
Infrastructure<br />
Price/cost<br />
Financial aspects<br />
Market failure/distortion<br />
Policy<br />
Institutional capacity<br />
Regulatory<br />
Consumer behaviour/awareness<br />
Interaction networks<br />
Cultural<br />
Tackling the issues<br />
These issues can be addressed through several measures:<br />
policy, legislation and regulation; standards; and<br />
mandated fiscal incentives and financing institutional<br />
capacity strengthening.<br />
The 1994 United Nations Framework Convention on<br />
Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol<br />
were developed to enable member countries to reduce<br />
their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and in turn decrease<br />
atmospheric GHG concentrations. Trinidad and Tobago is<br />
a ratified signatory under both of these mechanisms as<br />
a non-Annex 1 country: it is not obligated to reduce its<br />
emissions, but can do so on a voluntary basis.<br />
A number of fiscal incentives (see sidebar) were<br />
introduced in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 national budgets,<br />
in an effort to promote alternative energy use and EE.<br />
A number of these incentives required revisions to the<br />
Customs Act, the Income Tax Act and the VAT Act (Energy<br />
Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago 2011).<br />
Psychological/moral<br />
Subsidised fuel and electricity prices<br />
Trinidad and Tobago’s low electricity cost of US$0.06/kWh<br />
in some cases is at least ten times cheaper than other<br />
Caribbean and Latin American countries (Figure 5). This<br />
acts as an enormous disincentive to the development and<br />
utilisation of RE and EE mechanisms locally, making it<br />
uneconomical for RE and EE to penetrate the local energy<br />
market.<br />
Avg. domestic electricity tariff ($US/kWh)<br />
0.7<br />
0.4<br />
Trinidad<br />
Belize<br />
St Lucia<br />
Jamaica<br />
0<br />
Fig. 5: Comparison of electricity tariffs<br />
among various Caribbean islands<br />
Barbados<br />
The Bahamas<br />
St Vincent<br />
Anguilla<br />
Grenada<br />
Curacao<br />
Dominica<br />
Cayman Islands<br />
Antigua<br />
Bermuda<br />
Source: Shirley et al. 2013<br />
Culture, education, and lack of awareness<br />
Popular attitudes towards energy, and its resultant<br />
wasteful use, have stemmed from its low cost. This, along<br />
with lack of education, supports a culture of “wastage<br />
and inefficient use of the natural gas that generates our<br />
RE policy<br />
In 2011, a draft RE policy was formulated, which<br />
recommended the implementation of various initiatives<br />
and fiscal incentives to promote the use of RE and increase<br />
EE locally. The framework also set a target of producing<br />
5% or 60MW of the country’s peak electricity supply from<br />
RE sources.<br />
Climate change policy<br />
A draft climate change policy document was prepared<br />
and discussed at public consultations before finalisation.<br />
This covered GHG emission reduction via RE use<br />
and EE measures.<br />
Carbon emission reduction framework<br />
The Ministry of Planning and Development, UNDP and<br />
Factor CO 2<br />
consultants will embark on the formulation of<br />
a draft policy to address CO 2<br />
emissions from our power<br />
generation, industrial and transportation sectors.<br />
The consultants will conduct policy reviews, design<br />
business-as-usual (BAU) emission trajectories, recognise<br />
low CO 2<br />
opportunities, and devise low CO 2<br />
scenarios for<br />
possible implementation.<br />
EE policy<br />
The National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago<br />
has been mandated by the government to produce a draft<br />
EE policy targeting industrial plants within the Point Lisas<br />
Industrial Estate.<br />
The UWI-Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business<br />
offers an MBA in sustainable energy management, the<br />
only one of its kind in the Caribbean. It allows students<br />
to contribute to the successful “planning, execution and<br />
monitoring” of energy projects and organisations. It<br />
establishes a framework for the economic diversification<br />
38 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
Renewable Energy<br />
COURTESY A.P.P.A./UNSPLASH.COM<br />
Trinidad & Tobago’s fiscal incentives for energy<br />
efficiency and renewable energy<br />
Solar energy incentives included:<br />
• import duty reduced to 0% on regional imports of solar<br />
water heaters (SWHs)<br />
• 0% VAT rating on SWHs<br />
• 25% tax allowance on the value of SWHs up to a maximum<br />
of $10,000<br />
• 150% wear and tear allowance on the cost of SWHs<br />
• 150% wear and tear allowance on plant, machinery and<br />
equipment used to manufacture SWHs and solar photovoltaics<br />
(SPVs)<br />
<br />
How long does it take to get serious about solar energy?<br />
Wind energy incentives included:<br />
and development of regional clusters, particularly in the<br />
context of reduced dependence on oil and gas revenues<br />
(ALJGSB 2012).<br />
Recommendations to improve EE<br />
There are plenty of low-hanging fruit which could<br />
improve local EE in the power generation, residential,<br />
petrochemical, transportation and manufacturing sectors<br />
(Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago 2013).<br />
Popular attitudes toward energy, and its<br />
resultant wasteful use, have stemmed from<br />
its low costs<br />
In the area of power generation, for example, we can:<br />
• improve the efficiency of existing power generation<br />
• improve operational efficiency<br />
• enable open access to the grid by RE generators<br />
• reduce emissions<br />
• improve efficiency of LNG production<br />
• implement energy-saving opportunities and standards.<br />
In the area of residential buildings, we can:<br />
• implement electricity quotas: design homes to be<br />
more energy-efficient and to use less electricity<br />
• improve the efficiency of existing households, reducing<br />
electricity consumption.<br />
Future initiatives for both RE and EE must address issues<br />
related to feed-in tariffs, net metering, grid capacity,<br />
and infrastructure, as well as safety considerations.<br />
• import duty reduced to 0% on imports of wind turbines<br />
and related equipment<br />
• 0% VAT rating on wind turbines<br />
• 150% wear and tear allowance on the cost of wind<br />
turbines and supporting equipment<br />
• wear and tear allowance of 150% on equipment used to<br />
manufacture wind turbines<br />
Energy efficiency incentives included:<br />
• 150% tax allowance on the cost of commissioning<br />
energy audits and the design and installation of energysaving<br />
systems<br />
• accelerated depreciation of 75% on acquisition of smart<br />
energy-efficient systems<br />
• 25% wear and tear allowance on plant, machinery and<br />
equipment acquisition<br />
• greater petroleum product exports<br />
• lowered dependence on petroleum imports<br />
• increased employment opportunities<br />
• compliance with COP 21 ratifications<br />
• crucial support for national development<br />
• technological progress.<br />
Future initiatives for RE and EE must<br />
address issues related to feed-in tariffs,<br />
net metering, grid capacity, infrastructure<br />
issues, and safety considerations<br />
The benefits<br />
Implementing these recommendations will benefit Trinidad<br />
and Tobago in many ways, by creating:<br />
• increased energy security<br />
• climate change mitigation<br />
• conservation of domestic hydrocarbon supply<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 39
COURTESY INVESTT
InvesTT<br />
Attracting<br />
the investor<br />
When it comes to inward investment, whether for export<br />
or not, InvesTT is the key support agency to deal with<br />
by Joel Henry<br />
Writer/Freelance journalist<br />
For those who understand the<br />
needs of the economy, something<br />
exciting is happening<br />
Opportunities are abounding right<br />
now and will continue over the next<br />
two decades<br />
In 2015, the US business process outsourcing giant iQor opened a contact<br />
centre in Trinidad and Tobago. The investment brought in US$4 million<br />
and created hundreds of jobs at its local headquarters in the Tamana InTech<br />
Park. New investment, new industry, new employment and foreign exchange<br />
<strong>–</strong> the deal was a major success for policymakers and facilitating agencies such<br />
as InvesTT, and for the country itself.<br />
But what’s better than a success story? A successful second act. In 2017<br />
iQor re-invested, opening another contact centre (this time in Barataria) and<br />
employing hundreds more. In total the company has invested well over US$7<br />
million and employed up to 700 people.<br />
The iQor investment is only one of many. News briefs on foreign<br />
investment and the exploits of state agencies tend not to hold the public’s<br />
attention, but for those who understand the needs of the economy, something<br />
exciting is happening. Trinidad and Tobago, after much groundwork, is<br />
becoming recognised as a fabulous destination for investment.<br />
“There is a lot of interest in Trinidad and Tobago,” says Christopher Lewis,<br />
president of InvesTT. “We closed eight investments for the fiscal year. Our<br />
target was four.”<br />
Lewis puts the value of the investments at US$180 million, which is<br />
impressive, but their true worth goes well beyond that. Locked in dependency<br />
on its energy sector for many years, the country has been seeking ways to<br />
develop new industries and diversify the economy. It is the role of state<br />
agencies such as InvesTT, created in 2012, to facilitate that process. Success<br />
has been limited. But the times appear to be changing.<br />
“Opportunities are abounding right now and will continue over the next<br />
two decades,” says John Hadad, co-CEO of the HADCO Group. HADCO has<br />
partnered with businessman Paul Gabriel on a multi-million-dollar ice cream<br />
manufacturing venture, Creamery Novelties, which includes a TT$35 million<br />
plant. “HADCO has opportunities coming at us every single day. I would<br />
unequivocally recommend Trinidad and Tobago as an investment destination.”<br />
The role of InvesTT<br />
As analysts will point out, the country has been an attractive destination for<br />
investment for some time. Among its standout features are its low energy cost,<br />
a well-educated labour force, strategic location (near the US, Canada, Latin<br />
America and Europe, and just outside the main hurricane belt), relatively strong<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 41
Blueprint for a Bold New Economy<br />
industrial base and infrastructure, stable government, and<br />
an enticing culture.<br />
At heart, Trinidad and Tobago’s problem with<br />
attracting foreign investment is that, outside the energy<br />
sector, the country hasn’t been spending a great deal<br />
of effort looking for it. This legacy manifests itself in<br />
the bureaucratic hurdles to doing business. “Inefficient<br />
government bureaucracy” is listed as one of the most<br />
problematic elements of doing business in Trinidad and<br />
Tobago in the World Economic Forum in the Global<br />
Competitiveness Report.<br />
The problem with attracting foreign<br />
investment is that the country<br />
hasn’t been spending a great deal<br />
of effort looking for it<br />
“From an investment point of view it is challenging,”<br />
says Ashley Parasram, founder of Trinidad and Tobago<br />
Fine Cocoa Company (TTFCC), a bean-to-bar chocolate<br />
manufacturer headquartered in Piarco. “But I think people<br />
are aware of the challenges and working to address them.”<br />
Being the bridge between the investor and the many<br />
offices of the state is one of InvesTT’s most important<br />
functions. “That’s one of the main reasons investors come<br />
to us,” says Christopher Lewis. “We help them navigate<br />
InvesTT’s investment picks<br />
Where does InvesTT see strong investment potential?<br />
➤ Maritime services “Transshipment has been big for us,”<br />
says Christopher Lewis. “One investment that we closed this<br />
fiscal was with Transocean for a cold stacking (parking of<br />
merchant vessels and oil rigs) concern.”<br />
➤ Tourism “We have had major strides in tourism in Tobago,<br />
and now we are trying to bring Trinidad on board.”<br />
●<br />
➤ High-value manufacturing “A study was conducted on<br />
our behalf by PriceWaterhouseCoopers and investment briefs<br />
were prepared on various sectors … LED manufacturing,<br />
battery energy storage, aluminium recycling.”<br />
●<br />
➤ ICT/IT-enabled services “ICT is a strategic sector for us<br />
because with the advances in technology we cannot afford<br />
to be left behind. So we make a special emphasis on trying to<br />
increase the ICT capacity of the country through the types of<br />
investment we pursue.”<br />
●<br />
➤ What do investors want to do? “You never know where<br />
potential investors will come from. They may be in a totally<br />
different sector, and we will judge that on its merits.”<br />
Flagship building, Tamana InTech Park<br />
the bureaucratic path.”<br />
InvesTT helped TTFCC in its pre-launch phase,<br />
providing vital information on the market and procedures<br />
for setting up business in Trinidad and Tobago; it<br />
introduced them to key players in relevant agencies and<br />
operated as their guide.<br />
Engaging the diaspora<br />
TTFCC is a particularly interesting venture because it was<br />
founded by a member of the diaspora. Ashley Parasram<br />
is a Trinidadian who has lived in the UK since childhood.<br />
And although the chocolate manufacturer is a business<br />
concern, he is also guided by the urge to resuscitate<br />
the country’s cocoa industry and contribute to national<br />
development.<br />
“Attracting inward investment from the diaspora<br />
and its networks is where I see the future to be. Those<br />
networks are like gold sitting there,” he says, adding that,<br />
despite the challenges of establishing a new business, “I<br />
am definitely enjoying the fact that if I wanted to, I could<br />
get to a beach very quickly.”<br />
InvesTT and its sister agencies exporTT and CreativeTT<br />
are very aware of the potential of the diaspora. In<br />
February 2018, InvesTT launched “iloveTT”, an initiative<br />
to engage the diaspora, beginning with an online survey<br />
for citizens based outside the country.<br />
Attracting inward investment from the<br />
diaspora and its network is where I see the<br />
future to be<br />
“We have built up a database of about 600-plus diaspora<br />
members,” says Lewis. “That’s InvesTT alone. By the time<br />
we add exporTT and CreativeTT, we hope we will have<br />
about 1,000 names.”<br />
So far InvesTT has received over 382 responses to<br />
its diaspora survey, 92% of which expressed interest in<br />
receiving more information. Another 32% were interested<br />
in trading with Trinidad and Tobago, and 23% in investing.<br />
At the time of this writing, Lewis and his counterparts at<br />
the other agencies were planning a webinar with diaspora<br />
members for February <strong>2019</strong>, following a successful event<br />
in 2018 at which they were able to obtain qualitative<br />
information on diaspora interests.<br />
COURTESY INVESTT<br />
42 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
InvesTT<br />
Christopher Lewis<br />
President, InvesTT<br />
What an investor can expect<br />
“Currently we have an investor interested in a BPO (business<br />
process outsourcing project),” says InvesTT president<br />
Christopher Lewis. “They reached out to us. We sent them<br />
information relevant to the sector first, before they arrived<br />
<strong>–</strong> salary range, locations of people seeking work in<br />
the BPO field, commute times, rental costs for setting up<br />
operations. If or when they come, we meet and greet them<br />
at the airport, and facilitate their entry with Immigration.<br />
We arrange transportation. We take them to two or three<br />
potential sites, based on their requirements. Depending<br />
on the length of their stay, we will introduce them to key<br />
people <strong>–</strong> maybe in Town and Country Planning, the Ministry<br />
of Trade and Industry, and so forth. And we will of<br />
course follow up afterwards. There may be supplementary<br />
information that they need.”<br />
Lewis sees great potential in this initiative. “They know<br />
Trinidad and Tobago, and generally they are predisposed<br />
to assist. They are a skilled diaspora, skilled and well<br />
connected.”<br />
Potential<br />
“Potential” is a word that comes up often in conversation,<br />
both with InvesTT and investors themselves. There’s a<br />
fresh energy and enthusiasm for the prospects of the nonenergy<br />
sector.<br />
The InvesTT president is quick to point out that securing<br />
new investment takes time, often up to two or three<br />
years. Some of the gains being realised today are the<br />
result of efforts started years ago.<br />
But he is confident that much more can be achieved.<br />
“We are a small team but we are very impactful,” he says.<br />
“Our people are talented and have good relationships with<br />
the ministries and other agencies. We play a critical role.”<br />
And they are selling a valuable product, world class.<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 43
State of the Nation<br />
Economic outlook<br />
Latin America and the Caribbean<br />
The year <strong>2019</strong> is poised to be a better one for the Latin<br />
American economy, after a tough 2018 characterised by a<br />
chaotic election cycle, a decline in emerging market assets,<br />
and a U-turn towards global protectionism.<br />
Regional growth (excluding Venezuela) is projected<br />
at 1.7% in <strong>2019</strong>, 2.4% in 2020 and 2.5% in 2021. An<br />
improved labour market, reduced political noise, and the<br />
faded impact of the truckers’ strike in Brazil will chiefly<br />
fuel the region’s acceleration. To a lesser extent, faster<br />
economic growth in Chile and Peru will boost regional<br />
growth. The acceleration of growth in <strong>2019</strong> will be<br />
supported mainly by a rise in private consumption.<br />
Investment growth will accelerate, but at a slower<br />
pace in view of tight financing conditions and planned<br />
reductions in public spending across a number of countries.<br />
Decelerating global trade will also limit export growth<br />
during the forecast period.<br />
In the Caribbean, financing conditions have tightened<br />
against the backdrop of rising US interest rates, dollar<br />
appreciation, and weaker investor sentiment towards<br />
emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs).<br />
The region experienced a fall in equity prices and capital<br />
inflows, particularly bond flows, through the third quarter<br />
of 2018.<br />
Growth among advanced economies<br />
is predicted to drop to 2% in <strong>2019</strong><br />
Current account deficits have widened in most commodityexporting<br />
and commodity-importing economies. Several<br />
Caribbean economies which were not significantly<br />
damaged by hurricanes in 2017 registered narrowing<br />
deficits or widening surpluses as a share of GDP in 2018<br />
due to strong tourism inflows and rising oil prices (e.g.<br />
The Bahamas, Belize, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and<br />
Trinidad and Tobago).<br />
Regional growth (excluding Venezuela) is<br />
projected at 1.7% in <strong>2019</strong>, 2.4% in 2020<br />
and 2.5% in 2021<br />
Table 1: Latin America and the Caribbean — real GDP growth at market prices (%)<br />
Year-end<br />
Projected<br />
2017 2018 <strong>2019</strong> 2020<br />
Latin America 0.8% 0.6% 1.7% 2.4%<br />
Caribbean 3.4% 4.4% 4.0% 4.0%<br />
The domestic landscape<br />
In September 2018, the International Monetary Fund<br />
(IMF) said it expected the Trinidad and Tobago economy<br />
to slowly recover from a deep recession, underpinned by<br />
a strong recovery in gas production.<br />
On the other hand, weak activity in construction,<br />
financial services and trade, along with foreign exchange<br />
shortages and the slow pace of public investment, continue<br />
to dampen non-energy sector growth.<br />
The IMF forecast Trinidad and Tobago’s growth in<br />
2018 at 1.0%, up from a contraction of 2.6% in 2017, and<br />
<strong>2019</strong> growth of 0.9% (see Table 2).<br />
Table 2: Trinidad and Tobago growth (IMF forecast)<br />
Real GDP<br />
growth forecast<br />
2017 2018 <strong>2019</strong><br />
IMF -2.6% 1.0% 0.9%<br />
Global outlook<br />
According to the World Bank, global economic growth is<br />
projected to soften from 3.0% in 2018 (revised downwards<br />
to 2.9% in <strong>2019</strong>). International trade and manufacturing<br />
activity have also softened, while trade tensions remain<br />
elevated and some large emerging markets have<br />
experienced substantial financial market pressures.<br />
Table 3: Global growth rates<br />
Economic growth rates 2018-<strong>2019</strong> (%)<br />
2018 <strong>2019</strong><br />
3.0 2.9<br />
Growth among advanced economies is predicted to drop<br />
to 2% in <strong>2019</strong>. Slowing external demand, rising borrowing<br />
costs, and persistent policy uncertainties are expected to<br />
weigh on the outlook for emerging market and developing<br />
economies.<br />
Rest of the world<br />
The IMF maintained its US growth forecast at 2.5% and<br />
China at 6.2%; but lowered the euro-area outlook to 1.6%<br />
from 1.9%, and boosted Japan’s outlook to 1.1% from<br />
0.9%.<br />
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), however, revised<br />
its forecast in light of the impasse over the Brexit<br />
withdrawal agreement. With the possibility of a second<br />
referendum, it is predicted that a “no deal” Brexit is a less<br />
likely scenario.<br />
The US-China trade war has begun to weigh on<br />
Germany’s economy, with both exports and imports struggling<br />
in November 2018. Industrial production contracted<br />
in November, and as a result the <strong>2019</strong> real GDP forecast<br />
for Germany has been revised downwards from 1.6% to<br />
1.2%. The euro zone as a whole is expected to expand by<br />
44 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
Economic Outlook<br />
METAMORWORKS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM<br />
1.5% in <strong>2019</strong>, down from 1.7% as previously forecast.<br />
Fluctuations in global oil prices in 2018 have led to<br />
the revision of our local oil price forecast. Prices of Brent<br />
crude (from the North Sea between the UK and Norway)<br />
are expected to ease from US$71.1/barrel in 2018 to<br />
US$66/barrel in <strong>2019</strong> (the previous forecast was US$70/<br />
barrel), owing to greater than expected supplies from Iran<br />
and weaker demand growth. We expect oil prices to slump<br />
further in 2020, to an average of US$60.5/barrel (from the<br />
US$67.5/barrel previously forecast for 2020).<br />
South Asia is set to remain relatively insulated from<br />
some of these global uncertainties, and will retain its<br />
top spot as the world’s fastest-growing region in <strong>2019</strong>.<br />
However, the deceleration in commodity exports will stall<br />
economic growth at a weaker-than-expected 4.2% this<br />
year in the South Asian region.<br />
FDI<br />
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade<br />
and Development (UNCTAD), inflows of global foreign<br />
direct investment (FDI) continued their decline in 2018,<br />
following a 23% decrease in 2017 from the previous year,<br />
with a 41% decrease estimated for the first half of 2018.<br />
References<br />
“Expectations for Latin America’s Economy in <strong>2019</strong>: Economic Forecasts<br />
from the World’s Leading Economists.” Focus Economics, 18 December<br />
2018, www.focus-economics.com/blog/expectations-for-latin-americaseconomy-in-<strong>2019</strong>.<br />
“Trinidad & Tobago Holds Rate, Slack Growth, Low Inflation.” Central Bank<br />
News, 28 December 2018, www.centralbanknews.info/2018/12/trinidadtobago-holds-rate-slack-growth.html.<br />
“Darkening Prospects: Global Economy to Slow to 2.9 Percent in <strong>2019</strong> as<br />
Trade, Investment Weaken”. World Bank, January <strong>2019</strong>. www.worldbank.<br />
org/en/news/press-release/<strong>2019</strong>/01/08/darkening-prospects-globaleconomy-to-slow-to-29-percent-in-<strong>2019</strong>-as-trade-investment-weaken.<br />
Country Forecast <strong>–</strong> Global Outlook. The Economist Intelligence Unit, 13<br />
January <strong>2019</strong>.<br />
In September 2018 the International<br />
Monetary Fund (IMF) said it expected the<br />
Trinidad and Tobago economy to slowly<br />
recover from a deep recession<br />
Following tax reforms implemented by the US government,<br />
the decline in global FDI in developed countries<br />
was mainly due to large repatriations of foreign earnings<br />
from affiliates of the US.<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 45
State of the Nation<br />
Energy update<br />
Local crude oil and natural gas production and usage<br />
➤ Figure 1 shows that the top 3 oil<br />
producers have remained unchanged<br />
from Q3 2017 to Q3 2018. It is<br />
important to note that, for the same<br />
period, Trinidad and Tobago was<br />
actually a net importer of crude oil,<br />
as shown in Figure 2.<br />
Fig. 1: Top oil producers (avg. bopd)<br />
20,511<br />
11,820<br />
11,592<br />
17,137<br />
11,984<br />
10,219<br />
ILLUSTRATIONS (ICONS): THE NOUN PROJECT<br />
Q3<br />
2017<br />
Trinmar<br />
Petrotrin<br />
Perenco<br />
Q3<br />
2018<br />
Trinmar<br />
Petrotrin<br />
Perenco<br />
Fig. 2: Imports vs exports of crude oil (bbls)<br />
7,752,250<br />
1,987,342<br />
7,218,718<br />
1,881,494<br />
Q3<br />
2017<br />
Imports<br />
Exports<br />
Q3<br />
2018<br />
Imports<br />
Exports<br />
➤ As can be seen in Figure 1, when<br />
comparing Q3 data from 2017<br />
and 2018, between the top three<br />
producers there was an average<br />
decline in oil production of 10.43%.<br />
Over the same time period there<br />
was an average 8.28% increase in<br />
natural gas output (Figure 4). Figure<br />
3 also shows that the LNG sector<br />
continues to be the major user of<br />
natural gas locally, accounting for<br />
almost 56% of total production.<br />
Fig. 3: Natural gas utilisation by sector<br />
Q3 2018 (avg. mmscf/d)<br />
3,269<br />
LNG<br />
(1,817)<br />
Ammonia<br />
(547)<br />
Methanol<br />
(444)<br />
Power<br />
(257)<br />
Refinery<br />
(96)<br />
Other<br />
(109)<br />
Fig. 4: Top local natural gas producers<br />
Q3 (avg. mmscf/d)<br />
1,993<br />
Q3<br />
2017 BPTT<br />
1,974<br />
Q3<br />
2018 BPTT<br />
513<br />
Shell<br />
531<br />
Shell<br />
527<br />
EOG<br />
474<br />
EOG<br />
Source: MEEI Consolidated Report 2017 & 2018<br />
46 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
Energy Update<br />
A comparison of Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 production<br />
and export levels for energy and downstream products<br />
Q3 2017<br />
Q3 2018<br />
Natural gas production (mmscf/d)<br />
Crude oil condensate production (bopd)<br />
80<br />
➤ A comparison between Q3 2017<br />
and Q3 2018 shows that monthly<br />
natural gas production levels<br />
improved, with the exception of<br />
September 2018 where production<br />
levels declined drastically<br />
Thousands<br />
4<br />
40<br />
➤ Downstream products on average<br />
show decreases in production<br />
levels in Q3 2018<br />
3<br />
July August September<br />
0<br />
July August September<br />
➤ Crude oil production shows a<br />
downward trend in Q3 2018<br />
450<br />
Ammonia production (mega tonnes)<br />
500<br />
Ammonia export (mega tonnes)<br />
Thousands<br />
400 250<br />
350<br />
July<br />
August<br />
September<br />
0<br />
July<br />
August<br />
September<br />
Methanol production (mega tonnes)<br />
Methanol exports (mega tonnes)<br />
500<br />
600<br />
Thousands<br />
300<br />
300<br />
0 0<br />
July<br />
August<br />
September<br />
July<br />
August<br />
September<br />
Urea production (mega tonnes)<br />
Urea exports (mega tonnes)<br />
70<br />
90<br />
Thousands<br />
40<br />
50<br />
0 0<br />
July<br />
August<br />
September<br />
July<br />
August<br />
September<br />
Source: MEEI Consolidated Report 2017 & 2018<br />
chamber.org.tt<br />
<strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 47
The Chamber and Its Members<br />
Welcome,<br />
new members!<br />
The Chamber extends a very warm welcome<br />
to companies and individuals who have become<br />
members in recent months<br />
MCS Software Limited<br />
91 Cascade Road<br />
Cascade<br />
627-0114<br />
kent@mcssoftware.biz<br />
Dr John Gedeon<br />
Maracas<br />
St Joseph<br />
764-8113<br />
Jieovane Investments Limited<br />
O’Meara South Main Road<br />
Arima<br />
725-2929<br />
COURTESY SIMONE ANDREWS<br />
HR Management made simple.<br />
48 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong> chamber.org.tt
chamber.org.tt/<strong>CONTACT</strong>-MAGAZINE <strong>March</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
49
FROM THE HOUSE OF ANGOSTURA<br />
top ten BEST SELLING RUM<br />
top TEN trending RUM<br />
<strong>2019</strong><br />
as voted by the world’s best bars<br />
<strong>2019</strong><br />
as voted by the world’s best bars