The annual Trans-Atlantic Trade an Investment Symposium (TATIS), hosted by the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago strongly advocates and created opportunities for the advancement of trade and investment between Africa, Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has indicated its keen interest in doing business in Africa with a focus on trade relations with Ghana. Following the 2023 Trade and Investment Symposium the then Trinidad and Tobago Minister of Trade and Investment committed to lead a trade mission to Ghana which took place in March 2024. The 50-member delegation included representatives of government as well as business leaders. One of the significant outcomes of that trade mission was the signing of a a Memorandum of Understanding between the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) to formalize and foster increased trade collaboration in the manufacturing sector. One of the areas of collaboration proposed was SME development through joint ventures, partnerships and technical support. This MOU is further supported by the promulgation of a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) signed in September 2024. The BIT provides legal safeguards and dispute resolution frameworks for protection against unfair treatment.
With the theme Building Trade Beyond Borders: Opportunities for SMES from Trinidad and Tobago and Ghana, the 2026 Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Symposium seeks to build upon these developments to consolidate achievements of past years, learn from varied challenges and successes and create a platform that will establish learning networks and facilitate trade partnerships and investment opportunities for businesses in Trinidad and Tobago and Ghana, with a particular focus on SME’s.
This year, the Symposium will feature addresses by Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism, Satyakama Maharaj and the Honourable Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Minister of State for Special Initiatives, Office of the President of Ghana. Other presenters are representatives from prominent business institutions in Trinidad and Tobago and Ghana including the Trinidad and Tobago Export Import Bank; Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association; Youth Business Trinidad and Tobago; Africa Skills Hub Foundation, Ghana; Fire on the Runway International, Ghana.
The 2026 symposium aims to facilitate interaction between businesses; provide information about the signed and potential trade agreements that will assist businesses to successfully engage in import / export activities between Trinidad and Tobago and Ghana; explore the opportunities for joint ventures and partnerships and introduce digital platforms to facilitate immediate entry into the Ghana / Trinidad and Tobago markets without physical presence, testing of demand using small inventory batches with lower customer acquisition costs.
The major outcome of the Forum will be the launch of the Africa Caribbean Business Network and a three-year incubator accelerator programme for SMEs with a particular emphasis on women and youth. TATIS 2026 supports the diversification agenda of our twin island state and will build upon and strengthen the existing efforts of SMEs and provide opportunities to further develop their capacity for trade with their counterparts in Ghana.
For further information, contact the ESCTT Business Development Unit at 633-9235 or email transatnet.esc@gmail.com.