A Guide to Investing in Trinidad and Tobago (2011) - Ministry of ...

“The food and beverage sector
today boasts global players
with internationally recognised
brands…”
ages with such areas as printing and packaging,
research and development, and training—which together
support growth of the industry.
Sector Profile:
The local food and beverage Industry is a stalwart of
the non-energy manufacturing sector, contributing approximately
TT$4.1 billion to GDP in 2009, amounting
to 52 percent of overall Manufacturing GDP. There are
on record 430 firms, employing some 11, 000 people.
56 A Guide to Investing in Trinidad and Tobago (2011)
With continued expansion of the local economy, the
domestic food and beverage sector is expected to
continue along its progressive track. In addition, expansion
of the regional economy, renewed efforts
for research and further product development, and
strategic niche marketing will also support sustained
growth over the longer term.
Opportunity For Investment:
The food and beverage sector continues to offer significant
investment opportunities, particularly for manufacturers
who utilise unique regional agro-products
to develop goods such as rum flavored chocolate
cakes, Caribbean fruitcakes, sauces and spices, soft
drinks and exotic fruit juices, specialty rums, and bottled
water.
Given the rapid opening up of global markets, the increased
appreciation in the Northern hemisphere for
“exotic” foods, and the growth of the gourmet lifestyle
in the more developed metropolitan communities,
the local food and beverage sector has a unique opportunity
to brand and create specialty foods for the
overseas gourmet markets, apart from the traditional
focus on the diasporic markets. There are also spinoff
opportunities in valued-added activities such as
market research, advertising, branding, printing and
packaging, and the certification of business processes
and food quality standards.
Film
Trinidad and Tobago’s film sector is usually defined as a
cultural industry. The local film sector began emerging
in the late sixties and by the late seventies, there were a
handful of local productions—both feature film and television.
Along with our geographic location, the country
has substantial resources for the production of feature
films, with a well developed theatrical community,
playwrights, experienced production crews, etcetera.
The components of the local film industry are:
• Creative—screenwriters, film directors, art directors,
actors, directors of photography, animators,
music composers, editors
• Production—producers acquire the rights for a
property, assemble the creative team, secure financing,
develop the property and arrange distribution
• Distribution—local, regional and international
• Exhibition—theatrical (cinemas, DVD, video outlets)
and non-theatrical (schools, Government
and other institutions)
• Broadcasting—television, direct television, cable,
pay-per-view, specialty and conventional
channels
• Products of the local film sector include feature
films, documentaries, television dramas and
sitcoms, entertainment programmes, commercials,
corporate productions
• Government productions, educational programmes,
and music videos
Sector Profile:
As of January 2007, Trinidad and Tobago’s film industry
consisted of twelve (12) production companies; thirty-