What Counts as a Service Business?
A service business earns income by providing expertise, solutions, experiences or access rather than selling a physical product alone. This includes firms and professionals working in a wide range of knowledge-based and customer-facing industries.
Globally, services play a major role in trade and value creation. For Trinidad and Tobago, this matters. Services already make up a major share of national output and offer one of the clearest pathways for diversification beyond energy.
Are You a Services Exporter?
You May Already Be One
A business is exporting services when it sells a service to a client, customer, student, visitor, patient or partner outside its home market. In many cases, firms are exporting without even realizing it — especially when they sell to foreign visitors or deliver services digitally across borders.
Services
& Business Services
& Energy Services
& Insurance Services
Hospitality
Training
How Services Are Exported: The 4 WTO Modes of Supply
Under the WTO’s General Agreement on Trade in Services, services are traded through four main channels.
Mode 1 —
Cross Border Supply
The service moves across the border, but the supplier and customer stay where they are.
- Software development and IT support
- Accounting, legal drafting and consulting
- Online training and remote advisory services
Mode 2 —
Consumption Abroad
The customer travels to the country where the service is supplied.
- Tourism, wellness and hospitality services
- Education and in-person training programmes
- Medical, cultural and event-based services
Mode 3 —
Commercial Presence
The supplier establishes a business presence in another market.
- Opening a branch office or subsidiary
- Setting up franchise or representative offices
- Expanding operations into new overseas markets
Mode 4 —
Movement of Natural Persons
A professional or specialist travels temporarily to another country to deliver a service.
- Consultants, engineers and designers
- Trainers, performers and creative professionals
- Energy specialists and technical experts