Trinidad and Tobago best exporter for 2022, Caricom open for regional business

TT estimated its exports to be 69 per cent or $83.2 billion last year making it the best performer in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This is according to Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon.

Speaking at the fourth session of Exim Bank and Youth Business TT’s (YBTT) Welcome to the World of Export webinar on Tuesday, she urged entrepreneurs to look at the Caricom region as an export market on the basis of not needing a work permit.

Self-employed people, their spouses and dependants will also be able to establish businesses without the need for a work permit.

She added that after the 50th Caricom heads of government meeting, the free movement of all categories of workers within the region was agreed. This will be implemented in the first half of 2024.

“This means that artisans, artistes, musicians, media personnel, agricultural or and domestic workers, university graduates, nurses, teachers and private security officers can further contribute to the region by offering their services. TT is pleased to have completed the necessary legislative amendments to address the free movement of all categories of workers eligible for free movement within the Caricom Single Market Economy.”

Caricom nationals will also be allowed to establish businesses in other member states including self-employed people – managerial, technical and supervisory personnel.

Businesses will still be subjected to fees for registration, annual filings and other legal requirements in member states as it is the norm.

Also present at the webinar were Exim Bank’s CEO Navin Dookeran, permanent secretary of the Ministry of the Trade and Industry Ayleen Alleyne-Ovid, Colin Hosein vice chairman of YBTT, Deodat Maharaj executive director of the Caribbean Export Development Agency, Dhanraj Harrypersad general manager of client services at exporTT and Lisa-Marie Daniel general manager of FashionTT.