2025 Dominica Trade Mission┃HIGHLIGHTS
A RESOUNDING SUCCESS AS T&T AND DOMINICA FORGE STRONGER ECONOMIC TIES!
T&T 2025 TRADE MISSION TO DOMINICA:
The mission, led by Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry of Trinidad & Tobago, Roger Roach, President of the Trinidad & Tobago Manufacturer’s Association (TTMA), Vice President, Emil Ramkissoon and CEO, Dr. Mahindra Ramdeen, saw over 150 B2B meetings, both on-site and off-site, between local businesses in Dominica and Trinidad & Tobago’s diverse manufacturing and service sectors. The mission featured 16 Trinidadian companies and 27 individuals who engaged in a total of 202 B2B meetings, 111 scheduled, 50 offsight & 42 unscheduled meetings with Dominica’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
DAIC President, Brenton Hiliare
“Strategic Partnerships for Growth…”
President of the Dominica Association of Industry & Commerce (DAIC), Brenton Hilaire remained grateful for the fruitful relationship and underscored the importance of evolving partnership between Dominica’s Chamber for Industry & Commerce and the Trinidad & Tobago Manufacturer’s Association. “The importance of this Mission cannot be overstated”, he emphasized. “It is about creating a dynamic and resilient business ecosystem, not just for Dominica, but one that strengthens the foundation of private sector growth across the Caribbean. This collaboration fuels investment, drives innovation, and unlocks new opportunities for our enterprises. As private sector leaders, we must leverage these strategic alliances to accelerate economic progress, navigate challenges with agility, and position our business for long-term success in an increasingly competitive global market”, the president remarked.
Executive Director, Ashma McDougall
“A broader opportunity…”
The recent trade mission was hailed as a significant success for local entrepreneurs, offering valuable opportunities for growth and collaboration. Ashma McDougall, Executive Director of the DAIC and consultant for the Trade Mission, highlighted its importance for local businesses. “This mission allowed us to foster relationships between local companies and manufacturers from Trinidad & Tobago. Our MSMEs were able to explore new products, expand their offerings, and refine their business strategies,” McDougall shared.
Senator Hon. Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry┃T&T
“More than 150 meetings…”
Senator Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry for Trinidad & Tobago, reflected on the mission’s positive outcomes. “So, we’ve had a very successful mission after these last two days. We’ve had more than 150 meetings, with great engagement from businesspersons on both sides. We’ve already seen some orders placed, and I believe there’s a lot of potential for expanding trade between our two nations. Additionally, there are opportunities for Dominica’s producers of fruits and vegetables to export more goods to Trinidad & Tobago, particularly in sub-manufacturing sectors like the beverage industry,” the honourable senator stated.
Public Sector Involvement
“Very impactful…” – Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Public Service Reform, Social Partnership, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, Ms. Gloria Joseph
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Public Service Reform, Social Partnership, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, Ms. Gloria Joseph, expressed her optimism about the mission’s long-term impact. “The Trade Mission will be very impactful as it has taken into consideration the realities on the ground. Since the team from Trinidad and Tobago have interacted with our business people, with our small business persons, with the government and many other stakeholders, I believe that this will be just the beginning of better things to come and we look forward to seeing our businesses thrive from this mission,” the P.S stated.
TTMA President - Roger Roach
“Incredibly promising…”
Roger Roach, President of the Trinidad & Tobago Manufacturer’s Association, shared similar enthusiasm about the success of the mission, citing the 100+ meetings as a key indicator of the robust interest and potential for future collaborations. “The willingness to do business and the camaraderie we’ve witnessed here are incredibly promising. We’ve already seen initial orders and expect further deals as the opportunities continue to unfold,” Roach noted. “From the initial reports, some of the manufacturers who have come here and the service providers are in the process of evaluating prospects. What that means is that there is more than one opportunity and they’re evaluating what is the best opportunity. That’s always a good place to be in,” the TTMA president remarked.
Dominican Manufacturer's Support
“Promote trade, create jobs, and enhance our GDP…”
John Robin, President of the Dominica Manufacturer’s Association, underscored the significance of the mission in fostering inter-Caribbean trade. “The initiative from Trinidad & Tobago serves as an example for us. We can replicate these efforts across the Caribbean to promote trade, create jobs, and enhance our GDP,” said Robin. He added that, “We need to come together through the Caribbean Private Sector Organization and we need to do a joint trade mission outside of our region so that we can export more to increase our GDP, increase employment, reduce unemployment and also even off the balance of trade.”
A RESOUNDING SUCCESS
The successful mission has set the stage for future partnerships, with continued emphasis on increasing inter-Caribbean trade and economic cooperation. Special thanks were extended to the Dominica Association of Industry & Commerce, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy, the Ministry of Labour, Public Service Reform, Social Partnership, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, Invest Dominica Authority, National Bank of Dominica, the Dominica Export/Import Agency (DEXIA), the valued members of the DAIC and other businesses who were instrumental in making the 2025 Dominica Trade Mission a resounding success!
(A few participants from the 2025 Dominica Trade Mission)
The 2025 Trade Mission to Dominica which took place from the 20 – 21 January, 2025 at the Fort Young Hotel, demonstrated the immense potential for deeper economic collaboration between Dominica and Trinidad & Tobago — and participants are optimistic about the opportunities that are ahead. The mission’s success is a testament to the power of regional cooperation in creating sustainable growth for Caribbean nations — See More
MORE FROM DOMINICA TRADE M!SSION
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