Investment Opportunities
Diverse Opportunities Proven Potential.
Trinidad and Tobago offers a unique blend of mature industrial infrastructure and emerging sector innovation. We invite you to explore our key investment pillars, each supported by robust government incentives, skilled talent, and strategic global connectivity.
Investment Opportunities
Nearshore Manufacturing
Trinidad and Tobago is an ideal location for the setting up of manufacturing enterprises within the Caribbean. Its robust logistics infrastructure, supported by numerous bilateral and multi-lateral trade agreements, have consistently created pathways for manufacturers seeking to widen their access to new markets. Additionally, T&T’s amenable energy costs – facilitated by its hydrocarbons industry – significantly boosts the capacity of manufacturers to offer competitively priced exported products.
The availability and abundant supply of affordable electricity and natural gas gives the sector a competitive advantage, relative to its regional counterparts in the Caribbean. Past and present developments in other related sectors, such as agro-processing, downstream petrochemicals and logistics, serve to shore up the sector by creating useful value-chain linkages.
Opportunities exist for manufacturing companies whose operations require ready accessibility to an abundant and dependable supply of low-cost energy.
Sustainable Energy Opportunities
Renewable energy
electricity generation
With a target of 30% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, Trinidad and Tobago has placed a focus on solar PV and wind (offshore and onshore) energy electricity generation. Trinidad and Tobago has favorable solar irradiation levels and as an island nation there is particular interest in offshore wind energy technology deployment.
(Key source of page information – National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago)
Manufacturing of solar and
wind components
Trinidad and Tobago is positioned to become a manufacturing center for renewable energy components for the solar and wind energy industry which would support the growing demand in the Caribbean and other end markets in the Americas. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) forecasts that Latin America and the Caribbean will grow their installed solar capacity by a factor of 40 by 2050. To service this demand, Trinidad and Tobago proposes a manufacturing cluster to ensure synergies and cost efficiencies.
Green hydrogen and Green chemicals
Trinidad and Tobago’s industry is highly specialized in gas and oil with the corresponding infrastructure and a focus on ammonia and methanol production. Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region have significant renewable energy potential. These factors facilitate a fantastic opportunity for the development of the green hydrogen economy with production of green chemicals, with the country’s strong petrochemical industry as a foundation. The first low-carbon hydrogen production facility in Trinidad and Tobago is currently under development.
Energy Storage
— Battery Assembly
Energy storage is a rapidly growing segment of the clean energy sector, and prices have dropped dramatically over the years. Trinidad and Tobago invites potential investors to propose battery component assembly and manufacturing projects as well as energy storage projects.
Gas-based Downstream Energy opportunities
Green hydrogen and Green chemicals
Trinidad and Tobago is already a global player in LNG exports from the world-class Atlantic LNG facility and is positioned to become a regional hub for LNG, targeting the needs of regional markets. As such, emphasis is also being placed on LNG bunkering as well as small-scale modular projects.
Alternative Fuels & Fuel Additives
CNG, Petrochemicals for Fuels (e.g. flex fuels), DME
There are potential investment opportunities in the development, production and utilization of alternative fuels and fuel additives as the country seeks to increase the efficiency of transportation fuels as well as minimize the carbon footprint from fossil fuels sources for both on-land vehicles and for offshore vessels.
Metals Processing – Aluminum
The processing of metals provides the platform for the creation of substantial employment opportunities, the development of specialized skill sets, as well as technology transfer in the development of new products. The metals processing industry is also power-intensive. However, investors in Trinidad and Tobago can benefit from the development of such an industry due mainly in part to the competitively priced electricity cost for such an industry.
Examples of downstream industries that can be established from a metals-processing downstream industry include: Galvanized materials; Roofing materials; Rebar; Electrical Cables; Wires; Skid and Vessel platforms; Pressure Vessels, Storage Tanks; Rims, Rods; Sheets; Angles, Flats, Billets; Roofing materials; Ingots; Vehicle body parts; Foil; Doors and Windows.
Downstream Methanol — DME and Plastics
The development of a plastics manufacturing industry as a component of downstream energy is of paramount importance for the diversification of the energy industry. The main pillars of this effort would lead to a more vibrant consumer industry that is energy-sector driven. This industry would include a vast variety of plastic products, for both domestic and export demand. The collaborative efforts of the energy and manufacturing sectors can lend to a major increase in local employment and national GDP growth.
Downstream Ammonia — Urea, Fertilizer Applications
Opportunities exist for smaller gas-based industries to be established using the output from primary chemical production facilities or by developing fully integrated processing plants. Downstream ammonia products lend to a variety of consumer products that are in high demand, such as fertilizers, which ultimately boost food production.
Inorganic Chemicals
Food Preservatives Since processing industries for inorganic chemicals do not primarily rely on natural gas as a raw material, there is a broad scope for developing these products in Trinidad and Tobago. Examples of such applications include food preservatives, water treatment chemicals, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, etc. Such industries are not highly capital-intensive and are relatively easy to establish in terms of resources and raw material requirements.
Bio chemicals – Natural Gas to Protein
Protein consumption is necessary for the health and benefit of living organisms. Protein can add quality and physical profile to food and can enter the market, even as an additive to food products. In order to lower the prices of food products and maintain a high amino acid content in healthy products, protein can be mixed into a variety of food products, especially in the case of fish meal and feed products for poultry and livestock. The natural gas requirement and other utilities/inputs that are required to produce single-cell protein are minimal when compared to the dominant petrochemical industry. Additionally, the development of specialized skill sets and opportunities for R&D would be prevalent and required for the development of such an industry.
Niche Manufacturing
Food & Beverage opportunities
Trinidad is the leading manufacturer of consumer goods for the CARICOM Market with food and beverage accounting for 24% of exports.
Details: Primary production: Prepared Food, Beverages, Spirits Preferable
Locations: Phoenix Park Industrial Estate; Tamana InTech Park (e TecK)
Pulp and Paper Manufacturing opportunities
The opportunity exists to engage in the manufacturing process of using wood as a raw material to produce pulp, paper, paperboard and other cellulose-based products.
Details:
Primary production: Pulp, Paper, Paperboard
Raw material: Wood
Preferable Locations: Phoenix Park Industrial Estate; Tamana InTech Park (e TecK)
Why Trinidad and Tobago for Manufacturing?
Trinidad and Tobago has a well-established and vibrant upstream, midstream and downstream hydrocarbon sector, and a dynamic manufacturing sector.
A robust & reliable electrical grid- current usage approximates 56% of overall capacity.
A cost-effective operational environment- lowest cost of electricity in the Caribbean at $0.05 USD per KWH.
A strategic export and supplier-network location between the Americas.
Large labor pool of technically skilled individuals
Two major seaports for sea freight and one major airport for air freight.
Access to modern industrial estate opportunities such as e TecK's Phoenix Park Industrial Estate and the Tamana InTech Park.
Fiscal & Non-fiscal incentives including Special Economic Zones
Incentives
A portfolio of attractive incentives is available to manufacturers in Trinidad and Tobago
Special Economic Zones
Opportunities exist for manufacturers, business owners and entrepreneurs to apply for the SEZ incentives via the SEZ Authority.
Import Concessions
Companies can import packaging materials via the Second Schedule of the Customs Act duty–free, based on certain conditions.
Duty-free Treatment
Under the provisions of the Third Schedule of the Customs Act, a company can benefit from duty exemptions on raw materials, machinery, equipment, packaging materials.
Research and Development Facility
The Research and Development Facility is a grant fund to provide financial support to the non-energy manufacturing and services sector.
Promotional Expenses Allowance
Promotional expenses incurred by local firms to promote the expansion of existing markets and/or the creation of new ones for the export of specified services or locally produced goods are tax deductible as an expense at 150% of the actual outlay.
Fiscal Incentives
An approved enterprise, which must be a locally incorporated resident corporation, may be granted an exemption from corporation tax for a period of up to 10 years, depending on the category under which it is approved.
Additional Benefits
Value Added Tax (VAT) waiver on imported construction material for approved building projects.
Special Economic Zones
Opportunities exist for manufacturers, business owners and entrepreneurs to apply for the SEZ incentives via the SEZ Authority.
Import Concessions
Companies can import packaging materials via the Second Schedule of the Customs Act duty–free, based on certain conditions.
Duty-free Treatment
Under the provisions of the Third Schedule of the Customs Act, a company can benefit from duty exemptions on raw materials, machinery, equipment, packaging materials.
Research and Development Facility
The Research and Development Facility is a grant fund to provide financial support to the non-energy manufacturing and services sector.
Promotional Expenses Allowance
Promotional expenses incurred by local firms to promote the expansion of existing markets and/or the creation of new ones for the export of specified services or locally produced goods are tax deductible as an expense at 150% of the actual outlay.
Fiscal Incentives
An approved enterprise, which must be a locally incorporated resident corporation, may be granted an exemption from corporation tax for a period of up to 10 years, depending on the category under which it is approved.
Additional Benefits
Value Added Tax (VAT) waiver on imported construction material for approved building projects.