HC’s Remarks at T&T-India Business Federation (TT-IBF)

(MGICC, 22.03.2026)

• Senator the Hon’ble Satyakama Maharaj, Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism
• Hon’ble Davendranath Tancoo, Minister of Finance and Minister in the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development 
• Hon’ble Nicolas Morris, Minister in the Office of Prime minister
• Hon’ble Dr Colin Neil Gosain, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism
• Former Ministers – Mr Chandresh Sharma, Mr Kevin Ramnarine
• All the Permanent Secretaries and Senior Officials of the Govt of T&T
• Mr Valmiki Arjoon, Chairman of T&T-India Business Federation 
• All the Office-bearers of the T&T-India Business Federation 
• All Heads of Business Chambers & esteemed Members of Chambers
• All the eminent business leaders

Namaste ! Sita Ram. I welcome you all on this special occasion. I and our team in the High Commission are indeed very pleased today on the formal launching of the T&T – India Business Federation, an entity we have been deliberating upon for a long time. 

Your presence in such a big number, and the presence of senior dignitaries from the Government, policy making, Business Chambers and business spheres this evening signifies the immense interest in having greater economic engagement and business between T&T and India. 

This is something for which we had several rounds of discussions, negotiations and brain storming – on what would be its shape, who will be its members, what will be its functioning and so on. 

I congratulate Mr Valmiki Arjoon, the founding President of this Federation and its founding members, especially Mr Shyamal Chandradutt Singh, Mr Sean Anand Singh, Mr Shawn Maharaj, Mr Amit Alagh and others – for making it possible – which required a lot of effort – including its registration, opening a bank account and of course the membership 

As of today, on its opening day, the Federation has some members and we expect it to grow from here! We urge as many as possible of you to join this entity and be part of this collaborative effort in taking forward the joint partnership between India and T&T. 

T&T and India have age-old relations based on deep-rooted people to people relations. This year is the 180th Anniversary of the first arrival of the ancestors from India to the shores of this country. 

We see strong bonds in cultural ties, festivals, rituals, traditions – many aspects have remained steadfast in this relationship. A sizeable number of devotees travel to India for pilgrimage every year. 

While all this cultural connect between our two countries is well appreciated and embraced, we feel that there immense potential to further substantiate our economic partnership and the bilateral trade which is at a modest 365 million USD last year. 

There is a need to translate our cultural bonds into a robust economic and commercial partnership.

There was the landmark visit of Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi ji to T&T last year. We are currently working on implementation of several of the outcomes and announcements made during that visit.

Friends!!

As you are aware, India is the fourth largest economy in the world and is likely to be the third largest in the coming years. Today, the whole world is engaging with India for all kinds of economic activities and businesses. We have almost everything to offer.  

We aim to invite TT business leaders to India and link them with Indian business Chambers and Indian business entities.  We wish to have their exposure in India’s flagship trade and economic events.

It may also be noted that in India, there are specialized commodity-specific Export promotion Councils – for examples, Leather Export Council, Gem & Jewellery Export Council, Food Boards of India – say Tea Board, Coffee Board, Rubber Board etc and their research centres.

We also aim to invite some of Indian business delegations to T&T and have joint activities and discussions. 

Some of the promising areas of collaboration and economic engagement with India include:

1. i) Health and Pharmaceuticals: signing of Pharmacopoeia
2. ii) Agriculture & Food -processing: favourable weather in T&T and India’s agriculture technologies   

iii) Textiles & garments 

1. iv) Transportation 
2. v) Solar energy 
3. vi) Engineering goods 

Ladies & Gentlemen!!

Last week, the International Summit on AI – the AI Impact Summit was hosted by India in a grand manner – with participation of leaders from all over the world. PM Modi Ji said: 

“Today, AI stands at a civilization inflection point. It can expand human capability in unprecedented ways, but it can also test existing social foundations if left unguided. That is why we have deliberately framed this Summit around Impact that ensures meaningful and equitable outcomes, not just innovation.

The guiding spirit, “Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhaye”, reflects India’s civilization philosophy. The end goal of technology should be ‘Welfare for All, Happiness of All’. Technology exists to serve humanity, not replace it.”

We are glad that Minister of Public Administration and AI of T&T Senator the Hon’ble Dominic Smith also participated in it. 

India is going to a major player in the sphere of AI and other cutting edge technologies in the times to come. 

Already, we have successful example of adoption of India’s flagship digital payment port UPI by the Govt of Trinidad & Tobago. We are in the process of its implementation and as the dignitaries from the government are present here – I urge them to implement it at the earliest possible so that the people could realize its benefits and see a qualitative change in their lives.

We are glad to have four visits from T&T in the last 2-3 months:

1. i) Hon’ble Rishard Seecharan, Minister in the Ministry of Health to attend 2nd WHO Conference on Traditional Medicine in Dec 2025
2. ii) Hon’ble Jagdeo Singh, Speaker to attend Commonwealth Speakers and Presidening Officers” Conference in January 2026

iii) Dr Roodal Moonilal, Minister of Energy and Energey Industries in Jan 2026 to attend Indian Energy Week

1. iv) Senator the Hon’ble Dominic Smith for AI Impact Summit in Feb 2026

Friends!!

I wish to convey that there is a wide canvas of economic engagement between India and T&T and we need to work together in intensifying this engagement. This Business Council or Federation is a step forward in this direction. 

This is an effort to provide a platform for deliberations, networking, bringing together the stakeholders and encouraging all those who are left out thinking that India is far. 

The purpose is that it work as a space to bring together the genuinely interested parties from all over, which may even in third countries, work towards the common goal. 

I sincerely thank Hon’ble Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries, and all others for taking time and joining for this special occasion. 

I sincerely thank the Federation and its office bearers for all their efforts in giving this entity a shape and wish them all the best in their endeavours in the times to come. 

Thank you all for taking time this evening !! Namaste Jai Hind, Jai T&T

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