TTMA Marks 70 Years With Call For Local Businesses To Go Global
« Local Business to Global Champion » was the theme of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association’s 70th President’s Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Thursday evening, as the organisation celebrated seven decades of supporting local industry and business development.
The milestone event saw TTMA President Emil Ramkissoon reflect on the Association’s ongoing commitment to export development, trade facilitation and advocacy on behalf of the country’s manufacturers.
Among its recent successes, he highlighted the TTMA’s partnership with EXIMBANK through the Export Action Programme, which continues to help small and medium-sized enterprises expand into regional and international markets.
« It’s a working partnership with presidents before me, and I am 100% sure of presidents after me, we have advocated wholeheartedly for the manufacturing facility that allows foreign exchange to be given to non-energy manufacturers purely for raw materials. We have advocated tirelessly day and night when the system was under review and there were gaps of uncertainty. We have kept our ties strong with changes, kept our members abreast, and today I can say the system has improved to benefit each and every manufacturer sitting in the room today. »
Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism, Satyakama Maharaj, praised the TTMA’s role in supporting local enterprise, describing the organisation as a leading advocate for the business community.
The Minister also commended the Association for identifying barriers to business growth while helping companies navigate pathways to expansion.
« For a manufacturer there’s a particular satisfaction in securing that first overseas order. Someone in another country has chosen your product, backed your business, and given you a chance to prove yourself. The second order means something more; it means you delivered, the quality held, the shipment arrived, and the customer wants to do business with you again. That is how a local business begins to build a global reputation. »
Feature speaker and Jamaican attorney, trade expert and international diplomat Pamela Coke-Hamilton urged Caribbean businesses to look beyond traditional markets and seize opportunities in Africa.
Citing findings from Afreximbank’s latest study, she noted that significant trade opportunities between the two regions remain untapped.
« We found that there is $1.65 billion in annual export potential in goods and services between our regions by 2030, and much of that is still unrealised. Looking at the Caribbean export potential, 18% of our region’s 499 million in export goods potential to Africa is untapped. I know it’s far; well, it appears far, but it is not further than China or India. »
The evening also recognised outstanding performance within the manufacturing sector.
ACADO Limited captured the Manufacturer of the Year Award in the Large category, while RHS Marketing and Christle Limited took top honours in the Medium and Small categories, respectively.
