Manufacturing on the Move: Strengthening T&T’s Export Future

October 22nd, 2025

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Over the past quarter-century, Trinidad and Tobago’s manufacturing sector has steadily evolved into a leading contributor to economic diversification. Once operating in the shadow of the energy industry, manufacturing now plays a vital role in generating exports, creating employment, and driving industrial innovation. According to Dale Parson, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA), the sector’s progress reflects a combination of policy support, investment, and resilience.

Between 2014 and 2023, manufacturing exports totalled more than TT$134 billion, with non-energy exports making up approximately 94% of the annual total. While sectors like food and beverage, plastics, paper, and glass products have posted impressive growth figures, industry leadership has also driven advances in competitiveness, trade facilitation, and technology adoption.

Enabling Growth Beyond Borders

The TTMA has positioned itself as the key facilitator of manufacturing’s role in national economic diversification. “TTMA has aggressively pursued international market penetration by hosting six trade missions per year involving over 250 companies,” Parson explains. These efforts include the first extra-regional trade mission to Ghana and the first-ever ‘Trade Mission on the Seas’.

“Our flagship Trade and Investment Convention (TIC) also serves as a powerful platform for local manufacturers to access regional and international buyers,” he adds. In the past two years (2023 and 2024), TIC has hosted approximately 600 exhibitors, facilitated over 800 business-to-business meetings, and welcomed more than 41,000 participants from 76 countries.

At the policy level, TTMA is also actively involved in shaping regional and international frameworks. “TTMA has collaborated with the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) and the National Quality Council on over 10 national and regional standards, participating in The Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) meetings to influence the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET) and Rules of Origin policies,” says Parson. The Association also supplies strategic market intelligence through commercial attachés and has delivered over 30 webinars in just two years.

Powering Competitive Trade Strategies

While established trading partners remain important, TTMA has intensified efforts to open new regional and international markets. “TTMA will lead a trade mission to Chile later this year, targeting a market of over 19 million consumers,” Parson shares. This initiative aligns with the recently concluded TT–Chile trade agreement and underscores the Association’s focus on export-led growth.

TTMA also plays a central role in broader trade negotiations. “We work closely with the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism in the negotiation of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements,” notes Parson, citing the TT–Chile and TT–Curaçao negotiations as recent examples.

Meanwhile, practical supply chain goals remain on the radar. “Our upcoming trade mission to China is focused on raw material sourcing, technology partnerships, and exploring supply chain solutions that can reduce production costs and improve output efficiency,” he details.

Breaking Barriers, Strengthening Manufacturing

Despite its progress, the sector is compelled to navigate long-standing barriers to competitiveness. “Trinidad and Tobago’s manufacturers continue to face a range of systemic challenges that impact competitiveness, including supply chain disruptions, limited access to foreign exchange, rising input costs, customs inefficiency, port inefficiency and congestion and persistent regulatory bottlenecks,” Parson acknowledges.

One of TTMA’s key advocacy achievements has been its partnership with the EXIMBANK to expand access to foreign exchange through the Manufacturing Forex Facility. Parson points out that, “284 companies have accessed funds; a total of US$337 million has been disbursed; and the facility was expanded by US$47 million between 2023 and 2024.”

Delayed Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds and production costs are also top concerns. Parson notes, “We submitted formal recommendations to the Government, including the netting off of VAT, [the processing of] timely refunds within three months, and the removal of VAT on manufacturing inputs.”

Concurrently, in the logistics sector, TTMA is actively engaged with customs and port authorities. “Supply chain delays—especially at ports—remain a pressing issue,” he emphasises. “TTMA has maintained direct lines of communication with stakeholders to address customs-related delays, advocating for improved efficiency at seaports and airport bonds.”

Championing Innovation and Talent

Manufacturers in Trinidad and Tobago are making substantial investments in technology and sustainability. “According to a recent reinvestment poll conducted by TTMA, the sector reinvested TT$1.5 billion between 2022 and 2023 and TT$1.2 billion from 2023 to 2024 into plant upgrades, advanced machinery, and capacity building,” Parson reports.

He observes that innovation is being embedded throughout the manufacturing lifecycle. “Manufacturers are adopting artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and integrating innovation across the value chain—from production and packaging to marketing and product development.”

To ensure the workforce keeps pace, the Association’s Learning Factory plays a vital role in skills development. “Many have expanded their capabilities through TTMA’s Learning Factory, which has become a cornerstone for industrial upskilling and innovation-driven transformation,” he adds.

TTMA is also partnering with institutions to address future talent needs. “TTMA has been deeply invested in workforce development partnerships with MIC Institute of Technology, which have led to training for over 300 apprentices in manufacturing and woodworking,” Parson remarks. “Additionally, the TTMA/UWI (The University of the West Indies) Summer Internship Programme has placed over 70 university students in the sector. At the same time, more than 60 employees have been certified through business short courses in collaboration with UWI-ROYTEC.”

Empowering Manufacturing’s Next Chapter

“The vision for the manufacturing sector in Trinidad and Tobago is one of transformation, anchored in competitiveness, innovation, and export growth,” says Parson. That transformation, he explains, is supported by ongoing TTMA advocacy for: “Incentives for digital and sustainable transformation, continued access to funding for equipment upgrades and research and development, and policy alignment to enable businesses to meet international standards.”

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) will continue to be essential. “The manufacturing sector’s future success depends on a strong PPP model,” Parson affirms. The Association intends to “Secure policy reforms that reduce the cost of doing business [and] drive CARICOM-level advocacy on Rules of Origin and CET policies.”

Parson is confident about the road ahead. “With strategic export-led growth, sustained innovation, and responsive advocacy, the TTMA will ensure the sector not only contributes to growing our non-energy Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but also becomes one of Trinidad and Tobago’s leading engines of employment, investment, forex earnings and global competitiveness in a world evolving rapidly through digitisation.”fit from the synergies to be realised from working under one roof.”

By Natalie Dookie