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Attractive Incentives

The Government of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago (GORTT) encourages direct investment in almost all sectors, with specific focus on non-energy sectors.

Trinidad and Tobago’s

Special Economic Zone regime

Special Economic Zone (SEZ) incentives are offered to new investors operating in Trinidad and Tobago’s non-energy industries. The SEZ Act 2022 creates a modern licensing and administrative regime for Operators (e.g. landlords of industrial/ business parks), SEZ Enterprises (e.g. businesses within designated zones) and Single Zone Enterprises (e.g. sole businesses). Opportunities exist for manufacturers, business owners and entrepreneurs to apply for the SEZ incentives via the SEZ Authority.

Designation of SEZs

The designation of various types of Special Economic Zones for specific types of activities enables the Government to encourage activities that are critical to national development, and focus these investments in urban and rural communities throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

Special Economic Zones will be designated as one of the following:

Free Port

A duty-free area, located at a port of entry where imported goods may be unloaded for warehousing, repackaging or processing of imported goods for value-adding activities, and logistics services and sales;

Free Trade Zone

A duty-free area that accommodates specific activities targeted for international trade;

Specialized Zone

A place designated for specialized activities including: manufacturing, maritime services, aviation services, fishing and fish processing, agriculture and agro-processing, information and communications technology, creative industries, financial services, medical tourism services, renewable energy, logistics and distribution, and business process outsourcing.

Industrial Park

A purpose-built industrial estate that leverages domestic and foreign fixed direct investment in value-added and export-oriented manufacturing industries.

Development Zone

Area where activities are focused on the development of a specific geographic region with emphasis on factors such as employment, skills training, entrepreneurship and rural development and overall social and economic development of the area.

Designation of SEZs​

The designation of various types of Special Economic Zones for specific types of activities enables the Government to encourage activities that are critical to national development, and focus these investments in urban and rural communities throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

Special Economic Zones will be designated as one of the following:

Designation of SEZs​

The designation of various types of Special Economic Zones for specific types of activities enables the Government to encourage activities that are critical to national development, and focus these investments in urban and rural communities throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

Special Economic Zones will be designated as one of the following:

Free Port

A duty-free area, located at a port of entry where imported goods may be unloaded for warehousing, repackaging or processing of imported goods for value-adding activities, and logistics services and sales;

Free Port

A duty-free area, located at a port of entry where imported goods may be unloaded for warehousing, repackaging or processing of imported goods for value-adding activities, and logistics services and sales;

Free Trade Zone

A duty-free area that accommodates specific activities targeted for international trade;

Free Trade Zone

A duty-free area that accommodates specific activities targeted for international trade;

Specialized Zone

A place designated for specialized activities including: manufacturing, maritime services, aviation services, fishing and fish processing, agriculture and agro-processing, information and communications technology, creative industries, financial services, medical tourism services, renewable energy, logistics and distribution, and business process outsourcing.

Specialized Zone

A place designated for specialized activities including: manufacturing, maritime services, aviation services, fishing and fish processing, agriculture and agro-processing, information and communications technology, creative industries, financial services, medical tourism services, renewable energy, logistics and distribution, and business process outsourcing.

Industrial Park

A purpose-built industrial estate that leverages domestic and foreign fixed direct investment in value-added and export-oriented manufacturing industries.

Industrial Park

A purpose-built industrial estate that leverages domestic and foreign fixed direct investment in value-added and export-oriented manufacturing industries.

Development Zone

Area where activities are focused on the development of a specific geographic region with emphasis on factors such as employment, skills training, entrepreneurship and rural development and overall social and economic development of the area.

Development Zone

Area where activities are focused on the development of a specific geographic region with emphasis on factors such as employment, skills training, entrepreneurship and rural development and overall social and economic development of the area.

The SEZ Act 2022 and how to apply

for SEZ incentives

You can download the SEZ Act
here:

The Trinidad and Tobago Special Economic Zones Act, 2022 (tradeind.gov.tt)

  • Further information and requests for application forms can be made via TTBizLink:
  • Special Economic Zones - Trinidad & Tobago Trade and Business Portal (ttbizlink.gov.tt)
Mail/Walk-in:

Chief Executive Officer –
Trinidad and Tobago Special Economic Zones Authority.
Level 3, Albion Plaza Energy Centre
22-24 Victoria Avenue,
Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Foreign Investors

The Foreign Investment Act, 1990 provides the acquisition by foreign investors of an interest in land or shares in local private or public companies and for the formation of companies. In summary, the Act makes the following provisions for foreign investors in Trinidad and Tobago:

100% ownership of the share capital in a private company.

Ownership of up to 30% in total of the share capital of a local public company without a licence.

Ownership of 1 acre of land for residential purposes and 5 acres of land for trade or business without having to obtain a licence.

Key Incentives for All Investors

Manufacturing
Incentives

Trinidad and Tobago is the leading manufacturing economy in CARICOM. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has established agencies that provide special incentives to support manufacturing operations.

Fiscal Incentives are benefits granted to large scale manufacturers or processing enterprises under the provisions of the Fiscal Incentives Act, Chapter 85:01 (as amended). These include exemptions from customs duties for building materials on the construction of an approved project, Value Added Tax (VAT) and/or income tax on dividends or other distribution.

Other incentives include:

  • Import Duty Concessions
    • Exemptions from customs duties on raw materials, machinery, equipment and packaging material.
  • Approved Small Company Status
    • Limited Liability Companies enjoy a tax relief for a period of 5 years.
  • Special Economic Zone Status
  • Allowances to the manufacturing sector
  • Tax exemptions for the housing sector

Maritime Incentives

  • Import Duty Concessions. Locally registered firms engaged in ship building and ship repair are allowed duty free treatment on their machinery, equipment and materials for use in the boat and ship building and repairs industry. (Third Schedule of the Customs Act, Chapter 78:01).

  • Special Economic Zones Status.

Creative Industries Incentives

Production Expenditure Rebate Programme

Download Criteria PDF (2025–2027)

Production-Expenditure-Rebate-Programme
  • Tax Deduction for Sponsorship of Audio, Visual and Video Production
  • Tax Deduction for artistic works
  • Tax Deduction for Production Company
  • Customs Duty Exemption

ICT Incentives

  • A tax allowance set at 150 percent up to $3 million provided to businesses that invest in tech start-ups and new tech businesses
  • A tax allowance set at 150 percent up to $3 million provided to businesses that engage in technology solutions and digitalization.
  • A tax allowance set at 150 percent up to $3 million provided to businesses that create employment in the technology industry, particularly for young people.
  • All taxes on mobile and digital equipment, mobile phones, software, computer accessories and peripherals removed.

Tourism Incentives

The Tourism Development Act (TDA), 2000 (as amended) provides for benefits to be granted to the owners/operators of various types of tourism projects, once these projects have the potential of contributing substantially to the growth of the tourism sector. The benefits that are offered include

  • Tax exemptions on profits not exceeding 7 years.
  • A range of tax exemptions on activities related to the tourism industry.
  • Specific Customs and Excise Duty exemptions

For link to Application Form (Form A) for Incentives under the Tourism Development Act and Lists of Documents Required

Form A & Required Documents

Agro-Processing Incentives

Agro-processing incentives offered by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago include rebates of:

50% of the cost of establishing approved facilities for Agro-Processing of approved commodities to a maximum of $50,000

50% of the cost refurbishing of approved facilities for Agro-Processing of approved commodities to a maximum of $20,000

50% towards the cost of packaging material to a maximum of $15,000 annually

40% of the cost of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) upgrade to a maximum of $40,000

100% of the cost of establishing a New Cocoa Estate, to a maximum of $6,000 per Hectare