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

three (33) companies offering production-support services;
and nine (9) television stations. Altogether, the
production companies employ a core staff of approximately
200 full-time employees, while the television stations
employ over 700 persons. Expertise abounds in
the production of commercials and corporate videos.
Roughly 253 foreign film crews came through Trinidad
and Tobago during the period 2005-2010, generating
revenues of TT$32.8 million. Trinidad and Tobago can
boast a unique advantage, with its concentrated variety
of contrasting locations within the close proximity.
Opportunity For Investment:
The main area for investment in the Film Industry in
Trinidad and Tobago is the proposed development of
a sound stage that would provide facilities for the production
of films, more sophisticated commercials and
game shows.
Fish And Fish Processing
The domestic fishing industry has been an economic
contributor for over 200 years and today encompasses
a diversified range of activities.
Fish-harvesting involves large and small operators
targeting near shore and offshore fishing zones, with
vessels that range from small five-man pirogues to
large trawlers which put to sea for months at a time.
There is also an established and internationally recognised,
expanding sport fishing sub-sector.
The on-shore sector comprises businesses which
specialise in boat building and repair, and specialty
supply shops. However, the largest and most profitable
onshore activity remains the fish processing business,
which continues to export quality fish products
to regional and international markets.
Opportunity For Investment:
There are significant opportunities in the offshore harvesting
sector, particularly among long-liners. With
growing interest in sport fishing, new business developments
are taking shape in this sub-sector, especially
in terms of craft and facility rentals. There are
also opportunities on the processing side of the industry,
which facilitates export quality fish products to
many North American markets.
Music And Entertainment
Epitomizing the term “cultural industry”, the local music/entertainment
sector has a long-standing history,
first emerging as viable revenue generating activities
in the pre-war era, and surging forward in post-World
War II Trinidad and Tobago, particularly due to the
presence of the United States military base, a growing
upper middle class which demanded quality entertainment
and the rising tide of pro-Independence
sentiment sweeping the country. As the years passed,
music industry operators interacted more and more
with their US based counterparts; soca music evolved
out of calypso; there was increased cross-fertilization
with regional artistes; new, powerful performers with
an international appeal emerged from the ranks; and
consequently the local music and entertainment sectors
were forced to develop more sophisticated op-
“The music/entertainment industry
provides opportunities
to invest in the development of
new talent”
erations to meet the demands of their wide and varied
audiences. At a national level, Carnival remains by
far the largest generator of revenue within the music/
entertainment sector. Carnival also has an important
export element, in that out of the local Carnival season,
masquerade bands, soca musicians and sundry
support service providers work overseas at various
Carnivals held in diaspora communities in the United
States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
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