By Chantalé Fletcher
TRINIDAD and Tobago has to become more attractive to do business.
This according to American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad & Tobago (AMCHAM T&T) newly-elected president Toni Sirju-Ramnarine.
She is the vice-president of corporate operations at Atlantic LNG, gave inaugural address at the organisation’s 28th annual general meeting on Tuesday.
Sirju-Ramnarine is the third female president of AMCHAM T&T.
She said, “For me, AMCHAM T&T has always been a chamber best characterised for its altruistic actions by people committed to making a difference in the lives of others.”
Sirju-Ramnarine thanked her predecessor Patricia Ghany “for the visionary leadership” since her inauguration in 2018.
She said some of Ghany’s greatest achievements during her tenure was her commitment to empowering women in business and society, in particular achieving gender parity on the board.
“I am pleased to say this is something that we have maintained with this current board,” Sirju-Ramnarine said.
Speaking on the theme Enabling Investment, Sirju-Ramnarine said that AMCHAM T&T is ready to commit to three priority areas of strategic focus to future-proof of the economy including:
- Recovery of the economy;
- Use of technology; and
- Preparation of our youth and the workforce for the future.
She said in order to use the pandemic situation to develop a new future for T&T, “We have to re-instill confidence in the economy.”
Sirju-Ramnarine, “It will also require significant local investment. Liquidity in the financial system is high. Local companies are listing on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and some are even moving their headquarters there. We have to make T&T a more attractive place to do business.”
Sirju-Ramnarine added that the “rule of law is a key prerequisite to investment attraction and a welcoming business environment.
AMCHAM T&T over the coming months will be working with the US Embassy, and other stakeholders locally on a series of Rule of Law initiatives with the possibility of establishing a multi-stakeholder, Rule of Law Committee.
Sirju-Ramnarine also said, “The development of a tech sector will be another major strategic pillar of AMCHAM T&T moving forward that will be key to T&T’s successful recovery from the pandemic.
“With efforts focused on re-shoring and nearshoring, coupled with the transformation imperatives laid bare by the pandemic, we have a golden opportunity to make the goal of creating a tech hub, a reality.”
She added that in addition to the benefits of creating a tech industry, “We also have to harness the transformative power of technology. In this vein, the digital transformation of businesses and the Government will be key to a successful recovery.”
AMCHAM T&T, continues to in addition has prioritise youth development in the new workforce of the future.
Sirju-Ramnarine said developing youths in the new workforce of the future requires building a “culture of curiosity” that moulds a cadre of young people with analytical thinking skills and other critical skills for the future.
She explained that, “This requires significant work that must be done in examining the role of schools and on the current curriculum. While the pandemic has shown that online school cannot work in totality, we have seen many new tools and techniques being incorporated into the way teachers teach and how students learn.”
“Our education system must see technical and vocational skills ranging from specific software to soft-skill training as investments into our future.” Sirju-Ramnarine stressed.
