Our Mission and Vision

Mission Statement:

The Trinidad and Tobago Services Sector will be recognized as a vibrant, diverse and internationally competitive sector, comprising of a variety of different companies, organizations and individuals selling their services both locally and internationally.

Mission Statement:

The TTCSI will monitor and assess the global business environment, facilitate and assist the local services sector to become increasingly competitive internationally, to contribute to the development and growth of the national economy.

Our History and Purpose

In 2001, a CARICOM Heads of Government mandate selected the model of coalitions of service industries as a mechanism for sustainable economic growth and development within the region.

The Trinidad and Tobago coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI) was launched by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago in October 2006, following the formation of a private sector / public sector Task Force that was responsible for its establishment. In April 2007, an operational institution was established.

TTCSI therefore, is a national umbrella body that brings together all services sector organizations and associations. Basically it is an alliance of professional services associations and organizations. It functions as a focal point to lobby, channel and address trade in services issues and services development issues, which are critical for the sector to thrive in the competitive global environment.

TTCSI is also the local institution responsible for issuing the Certificate of Registration as a CARICOM Service Provider in Trinidad and Tobago.

What does TTCSI do?

The TTCSI represents the local services sectors’ interests towards decision makers as well as international, regional and local stakeholders.  Over the years, TTCSI was able to create its own space and be recognised by relevant stakeholders as the voice of the local services industries.

An elected Board of seven, private sector Directors governs the Coalition and its work is implemented by a Secretariat of paid professionals, who work towards full time representation, advocacy and the overall development of the trade in services sector.

TTCSI serves to assist in trade negotiations and to strengthen the local private sector to face the challenges and opportunities arising from decisions taken at the WTO and the CSME levels as well as other trading regimes. The TTCSI is a national umbrella body that brings together all services sector organizations and associations. Basically it is an alliance of professional services associations and organizations. It functions as a focal point to lobby, channel and address trade in services issues and services development issues, which are critical for the sector to thrive in the competitive global environment.

To achieve our goals and mandates, our activities include:

• Engaging in direct dialogue with key decision makers
• Providing policies analysis and recommendations
• Issuing position papers
• Issuing press releases
• Participating in conferences
• Planning of conference / seminars/ workshops
• Trade promotion activities
• Facilitation of Trade Missions (Incoming & Outgoing)
• Education on trade in services related issues
• Sector surveys
• Magazines and articles in relevant publications

Our Strategy

Focus, driven and determined to achieve our main objective that is to contribute to the increase of services export; the TTCSI has adopted a services export strategy, which can be described as a four step mechanism: ‘Education – Business Development – Export Promotion – Lobbying’.  This strategy is one of progression towards export success:

TTCSI Representation

The TTCSI has significant representation in the advisory bodies of the Government. We sit on a wide range of government committees such as the Business Labor and Advisory Committee, the Standing Committee on Trade and Related Matters, the Technical Coordinating Committee etc. On its own initiative or by invitation, the TTCSI presents papers extensively to the Government on issues affecting business and the economy in general, and the services sector in particular.

Internationally, the TTCSI is Trinidad and Tobago private sector’s principal spokesman on the General Agreement on Trade in Services in international and multilateral forums such as the World Trade Organization through its membership with the Global Services Network (GSN).

Contact details:

Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries
45 Cornelio Street
Woodbrook
Port of Spain
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Phone: 868 622-9229
Fax: 868 622-8985 Ext 35

flouis@ttcsi.org or info@ttcsi.org

Website: www.ttcsi.org

Champion:

Nirad Tewarie
Chief Executive Officer
Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries
email: ntewarie@ttcsi.org