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Vol #4 Issue #1 February 23 2023

Vashti G. Guyadeen, Chief Executive Officer, TTCSI
In 2023, we commence the countdown to TTCSI’s 20th Anniversary, which will be celebrated on October 11, 2026. This means that in 1,322 days, the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries will move to adult status!
 
By this date, it is our intention to ensure that the organization is financially sustainable, retains the best and the brightest people, and has a vibrant membership that recognises our advocacy efforts in developing a robust, resilient and globally competitive services sector in Trinidad and Tobago, and the wider Caribbean.

In this issue of the CEO’s Roundup, I will highlight key projects from our Work Plan 2023 that are geared towards strengthening the capacity of member associations and building competitive services providers and firms.
National Services Exporters’ Portal (NSEP)

The NSEP is live, and more than 500 firms are registered on the Portal. These firms are categorised according to sub sectors. The National Services Exporters Portal (NSEP): branded the ‘Local Services Hub’ was therefore created to position, brand, market and promote Trinidad and Tobago as an international services hub.

The development of the International Services Hub will involve the continuous development of the NSEP, inward/outward trade missions, and proactive media engagement. A network of local services firms has been established to help accelerate the globalization of local businesses through shared expertise and opportunities. This network will act as a local advisor on international markets; develop market entry strategies; organize trade workshops; and provide in-depth market reports. It will also facilitate the exchange of experiences and knowledge of international markets by encouraging dialogue between service providers, governments and technology suppliers on the e-commerce side.

The TTCSI’s International Services Hub has the potential to provide opportunities to lower the traditionally high cost of exporting as it will enable firms to engage in joint marketing efforts such as joint market research and bundling of services. As the hub evolves, we envision that services providers and firms will realize the following core benefits:
  • Increase profit potential of firms on the portal
  • Increase export earnings potential
This is a free service and I urge you to ensure your members are registered on the platform. Go to https://nsep.ttcsi.org/ and register today!

Exporters Helpdesk


Monthly Publications

Eye on Services 

This year the monthly “Eye on Services” will be published in and available on our website on the last Monday of each month. The objective of each issue is to provide relevant and cutting-edge information on subsectors that has the capacity to transform the economy of Trinidad and Tobago. In this month’s issue the focus is on Business and events tourism, where we analyse what is needed to position this country as the business events hub of the region.  Download your copy, here.


3 Questions with Members 

This year our goal is to encourage member associations to forge strategic alliances with fellow members. Hence the reason why we drill down on the following areas:  

  1. What are your Strategic Goals for 2023?
  2. Who would you like to partner with from the TTCSI’s Membership? (Please see Appendix 1 for listing and check box in the right column).
  3. What assistance do you require from the TTCSI and the Ministry of Trade and Industry to achieve this objective?
Please complete the survey sent in early February and return to us via marketing@ttcsi.org, no later than February 28, 2023. Look out for a new edition of 3 Questions on the 15th day of each month.

Webinar Schedule for 2023

Signature Events 2023

In 2023, we are aiming for the stars. Mark your calendar!
 

“Doing Business with the World” Series

The series will be launched in March 2023.  A total of 28 countries will be featured over the course of six months. The series is organized accordingly:
  • Doing Business in Latin America (9 countries)
  • Doing Business in the Caribbean (6 countries)
  • Doing Business in Europe (3 countries)
  • Doing Business in Africa (2 countries)
  • Doing Business in Asia (4 countries)
  • Doing Business in North America (3 countries)
  • Doing Business in the United Kingdom

These countries were selected based on findings from the National Services Exporters Surveys of 2022 and 2020. The sessions will be conducted via zoom on Wednesdays from 10 am to 12 noon every fortnight from March 29th. Six in-person events will be hosted, providing an opportunity for firms and providers to network and connect directly to potential clients. 


LACSES 2023

Latin America & the Caribbean Services Exporters Symposium 2023 (LACSES 2023) June 2023
– 3 days of Trade shows/Exhibitions & Rooms for B2B Meetings

Venue: Port of Spain, Trinidad  
 
Services are vital for transforming the Latin American and Caribbean economies, providing a strong economic dynamism and producing the source for job creation and welfare.

The Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI), in collaboration with the Asociación Latinoamericana de Exportadores de Servicios (ALES) and the Barbados Coalition of Services Industries (BCSI), will be hosting a three-day Services Exporters Symposium bringing together decision makers, key stakeholders, captains of industry, as well as emerging and existing champions of services to accelerate the services agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean.


LACSES 2023 hopes to attract 350 local, regional, and international participants over the period. As Latin American and Caribbean businesses navigate the new norm, collaboration is key to pivoting services driven firms in the region. Focus also will be placed on trading with the European Union. There is no time like the present to work towards regional integration.

This symposium will make a bold move to stimulate partnerships and joint ventures amongst firms, associations and coalitions within the region.

One of the major events for the TTCSI for this year, the Symposium builds on the TTCSI’s Annual General Meeting Luncheon held in May 2022, where experts from the Inter-American Development Bank, Caribbean Export and the CARICOM Private Sector Organization began dialoguing on how best to transform the region into a knowledge services hub.

At the LACSES 2023, emphasis will be placed on the unique selling points of the region—going beyond sun, sand and sea.  For more than six decades, the Caribbean has been an exporter of health and construction services. Latin America’s services sector on the other hand, has become increasingly attractive due to its competitive costs and diverse, talented workforce. But few inroads have been made in building bridges across Latin America and the Caribbean.

We will seek answers to the question:
How do we brand the region as the first globally declared knowledge services hub that promotes sustainability, green businesses and digitization of micro, small and medium sized entrepreneurs?
 

TTCSI’s Services Week 2023

TTCSI’s Services Week returns on November 20-24, in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Services Week 2023 will bring together industry leaders, decision makers, entrepreneurs and technocrats to focus on accelerating the services sector in the region. A primary objective is to create an on-going dialogue amongst key stakeholders as we move to build a resilient, integrated services sector within the region.

The TTCSI will showcase its Global Services Exporters Portal, which will enable us to conduct more robust B2B meetings on a continuing basis. Top executives from leading services businesses will also form part of the week of activities.

As you can tell, we have a packed year ahead!
 

If you have any concerns, or you would like to be involved in any of this year’s special activities, reach out to me—by phone at +1 (868) 687-2499, or via email at ceo@ttcsi.org.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Remember, the best time to join the TTCSI community is right now. 


Vashti G. Guyadeen

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CEO's Roundup


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