Caption: Minister of Finance Davendranath Tancoo

Summary

• Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo says the IMF’s Article IV Consultation preliminary report reflects international confidence in the Prime Minister’s vision and the Government’s policies.
• Tancoo linked the report to recent signals of investor confidence, including the oversubscribed US$1 billion bond, energy-sector investment commitments and 900+ expressions of interest under the Revitalisation Blueprint.
• The Ministry of Finance said the IMF team’s visit highlighted positive developments such as a non-energy-led recovery, stable macro-financial conditions, continued investment-grade status, and progress in public financial management and financial-sector regulation.

 

By Prior Beharry

FINANCE Minister Davendranath Tancoo has described the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Article IV Consultation preliminary report as an expression of confidence in the Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s vision and the Government’s ability to develop Trinidad and Tobago and its people.

Commenting on the report, Tancoo told AZP News via WhatsApp: “This report is yet another indication of how positively the rest of the world views the actions taken by this government over the past nine months.”

He said it followed the oversubscription of the US$1 billion bond raised last month on the US market, strong energy-sector investment commitments, and “more than 900 expressions of interest” in projects under the Revitalisation Blueprint. “This latest IMF Article IV Consultation report is an expression of confidence in the vision of the Prime Minister and our ability to develop our country and our people,” he added.

On Monday, the Ministry of Finance issued a press release following the conclusion of the IMF staff team’s two-week official visit for the 2026 Article IV consultation.

The Ministry said the IMF team met with economic, political and social stakeholders across Trinidad and Tobago to assess recent macroeconomic developments, the medium-term outlook, the Government’s reform agenda and increased investor interest.

 

It said the IMF staff team met with Tancoo to present its preliminary findings, highlighting several positive developments, including:

• an economic recovery led by non-energy sectors;
• favourable medium-term prospects;
• a broadly stable macro-financial environment;
• continued investment-grade status and access to international financial markets;
• progress in public financial management; and
• advances in financial-sector regulation and stability, alongside renewed momentum toward economic diversification.

The release stated: “The Minister of Finance thanked the IMF staff team for their constructive engagement, high-quality analysis, and collaborative approach throughout the visit. He also welcomed the IMF’s recognition that, from the very outset of its tenure, this Government undertook a clear-eyed assessment of the country’s economic challenges and moved swiftly to implement bold and transformative reforms—some of them difficult and courageous, as the IMF itself acknowledges.”

In the release, Tancoo added: “Under the leadership of the Honourable Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the Administration—guided by a clear plan and vision—is firmly committed to placing Trinidad and Tobago on a stronger, more sustainable path. It will continue to advance sustainable economic growth, drive diversification, and strengthen the nation’s standing on the global stage—building a stronger country.”