Exporting Success Inside exporTT’s Journey to Global Markets

March 26th, 2025

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T’s) non-energy exports demonstrated remarkable resilience, experiencing robust compounded annual growth of 6% from 2018 to 2022. Dhanraj Harrypersad, General Manager – Client Services at exporTT Limited, attributes this achievement to several strategic initiatives. “T&T was able to recover quickly after the initial precipitous fall during the first phase of the pandemic. I believe that a lot of this success can be attributed to the work done under our Export Booster Initiative. The lion’s share of the increase can be credited to our partnership with the Export Support Network (ESN) members in executing trade missions. Over the last two years, we have been executing trade missions almost every two months,” he explained.

Exporting Through Strategic Partnerships

Through the ESN, exporTT has forged a strong collaboration with the private sector. This partnership has been instrumental in promoting grants and export initiatives in capacity building, training, seminars, and trade missions. The involvement of key players such as the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) and the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TTCIC) has led to the creation of a “National Trade Mission Schedule”. Harrypersad elaborates, “exporTT recognises that the most important part of trade missions are the business-to-business meetings; thus, financial support is provided to hire in-market consultants who can facilitate quality meetings. Additionally, exporTT supports small businesses with the Airfare Assistance Grant, enabling them to attend trade missions.”

This year, exporTT participated in Expocomer in Panama, Outsource LAC in Brazil, and Alimentec in Colombia. There are plans to participate in other global events, including Expo Caribe and Havana Fair in Cuba, SIAL in France, and the Americas Food and Beverage Show in the USA.

On the public sector front, exporTT collaborates with Eximbank for export financing and NEDCO to develop a pipeline management system that transitions entrepreneurs from start-ups to exporters. They also work with NAMDEVCO on market research and agricultural produce promotion, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) on initiatives in Tobago, and the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs to leverage the support of high commissions and embassies abroad. Furthermore, exporTT partners with several entities responsible for essential export documents, including Customs and Excise, the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries. They also collaborate with invesTT, CreativeTT, Trinidad Tourism Limited, and the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association to promote Trinidad and Tobago internationally. These organisations are also actively planning T&T’s involvement in Expo 2025, scheduled for April to October in Osaka, Japan.

Securing Global Deals 

One of exporTT’s notable successes is the “Exporter Accelerator Programme”. Harrypersad elaborates on a renowned example: “We worked with ten fledgling exporters looking to increase their export revenue. They were paired with experienced export managers who were able to transform their operations through the implementation of new tools and processes and ultimately increase their export readiness. As a direct result of this programme, all ten participants secured new export deals.”

More recently, exporTT finalised the “Tobago Indigenous Sweets” project. This project assisted ten tamarind ball, sugar cake, bene ball, and fudge manufacturers in optimising their processes to comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and achieve export readiness. The project is currently in its final phase of packaging enhancements to ensure these products meet the requirements for placement on international supermarket shelves.

exporTT also extends support through its International Certification Fund and Labelling and Product Testing Fund, empowering exporters to adopt innovative and sustainable production methods and elevate packaging standards. The Research and Development Grant funds feasibility studies, prototype development, and commercialisation of new products or services. Many recipients of this grant are in ICT or ICT-enabled industries, developing solutions to education, music, and productivity challenges.

exporTT’s proactive approach to export development holds the potential to drive innovation, create employment opportunities, and foster sustainable economic growth. Contemplating the future, Harrypersad remarks, “exporTT looks forward to its pending amalgamation with invesTT and CreativeTT to form the new Trade and Investment Promotion Agency. This development will result in a new strategic direction that brings all the promotion agencies together to develop a consistent country brand and benefit from the synergies to be realised from working under one roof.”

By Natalie Dookie