Trinidad and Tobago has long held a strategic position within the Caribbean, supported by a strong industrial base embedded in energy, petrochemicals and manufacturing. In recent years, the country has expanded its economic outreach beyond traditional partners, placing greater focus on trade diversification, manufacturing collaboration and international investment linkages. That direction now connects directly with India, a major economy with expanding industrial capacity and a vast consumer base.
Between April 20 and 24, 2026, a high-level business delegation representing the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association is in India, holding discussions with the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) in New Delhi and the World Trade Center in Mumbai. The delegation includes around twelve companies across chemicals, engineering, construction, food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, with a defined objective to expand trade volumes and enable joint ventures.
On Thursday, 23 April 2026, the delegation’s Mumbai leg featured a high-level business interaction organised by PHDCCI in association with the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association at the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Churchgate. Scheduled between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM, the session brought together industry stakeholders across chemicals, chocolates, engineering, food, construction, cosmetics and consumer goods, with a focus on business-to-business meetings, partnerships and trade and investment prospects between India and the Caribbean region.
At the centre of the visit is a Memorandum of Understanding between the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association and the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The agreement focuses on trade, investment and joint ventures, with emphasis on identifying commercially viable partnerships and expanding industrial cooperation.
Speaking on the sidelines, H.E. Mr. Chandradath Singh, High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago to India, described the initiative in direct terms. “This one is going to be about trade and investment, joint ventures. It is about the collaboration between PHDCCI and the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association to work together to find the right business opportunities,” he said.
He added that the MoU will extend across manufacturing and trading sectors, with a dual objective of increasing Indian exports to Trinidad and Tobago while also expanding Caribbean exports into India. “It will focus on importing wholesale finished products from India, and trying to do the reversal to export more products to India,” Singh said, referring to a long-standing trade imbalance both sides now aim to address.
The High Commissioner also underlined the timing of the visit. “I couldn’t find a better time for the delegation to come to India because of the incredible opportunities that have opened up and are opening up in India for joint ventures and for collaboration,” he stated. He connected this development to recent diplomatic exchanges, including Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi’s visit to Trinidad and Tobago, which expanded cooperation across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and agriculture within the Caribbean region.
Current trade volumes between the two countries remain limited, a reality acknowledged during conversations. Singh pointed to the need for steady expansion, stating that even a 10 to 15% increase in bilateral trade in both directions would mark substantial progress. He also identified niche export opportunities for Trinidad and Tobago, particularly in segments aligned with evolving consumer preferences in India.
“Gen Z, which is the largest young population in the world, is displaying a preference for new, innovative products,” he noted, pointing to a generational shift that could open space for Caribbean exports across food, fashion and lifestyle categories.
India currently exports a wide range of products to Trinidad and Tobago, including food items, condiments, jewellery, religious materials, pulses, grains and pharmaceuticals. The next phase of cooperation seeks to build a more balanced trade profile with increased participation from Trinidad and Tobago exporters.
Industry representatives outlined similar expectations. Mr. Emil Ramkissoon, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association, indicated that present cooperation could lead to a significant rise in trade and commercial activity over the next five years. Mr. Mahindra Ramdeen, Chief Executive Officer of TTMA, placed the discussion within a wider global trade environment, pointing to disruptions linked to tensions in West Asia and the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that diversification of trade partnerships has become essential for long-term business continuity.
On the Indian side, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry positioned itself as a central facilitator. Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO and Secretary General of PHDCCI, stated that both countries hold strong potential to scale trade volumes, with the chamber acting as a bridge through its network of over 150,000 enterprises.
Mr. Naveen Seth, Deputy Secretary General of PHDCCI, who is moderating the conference sessions, highlighted the role of structured dialogue in converting dialogues into business outcomes. Mr. Hemanshoo Aggarwal, Export Head at AS International, presented insights into India’s expanding trade footprint in the Caribbean, pointing to growing demand for Indian products and opportunities for deeper integration.
The visit also includes focused business-to-business meetings, allowing companies to establish direct connections and explore partnerships. Deliberations extend to logistics, energy cooperation and supply chain integration, indicating movement toward long-term trade architecture rather than isolated transactions.
This development places India and Trinidad and Tobago at a point where complementary strengths can be translated into sustained industrial cooperation. One offers scale, manufacturing capability and a broad market base. The other offers industrial expertise, regional access and emerging export potential.
If these pathways are pursued with consistency, the partnership can grow into a corridor of trade that links South Asia with the Caribbean in a new way. Such a corridor would extend beyond goods and services, connecting industries, ideas and enterprise across geographies. As both countries move ahead, the measure of success will lie in how effectively businesses convert dialogue into production, investment and shared growth, creating a partnership that contributes to a wider global network of industrial collaboration.
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