POSTED BY:- Poonam S. Juthani
DT:-23/04/2026
9867490397
Mumbai, April 23, 2026: The World Trade Center Mumbai, in collaboration with the All India Association of Industries, hosted an Interactive Meeting with a high level business delegation from Trinidad & Tobago, highlighting how the bilateral strengths can be scaled to unlock wider opportunities across India and Caribbean markets.
Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, WTC Mumbai and President, All India Association of Industries, emphasized that Trinidad & Tobago serves as a strategic gateway to the Caribbean region. He stated, “We are at home on both sides, and this shared comfort must translate into stronger trade linkages. Trinidad & Tobago’s strengths can be scaled across Caribbean economies, creating a multiplier effect for Indian enterprises. At the same time, Trinidad & Tobago plays a vital role as a key LNG and petrochemical exporter in the Caribbean, with strong potential to contribute to India’s energy diversification and strengthen the resilience of the bilateral trade relationship”
“The bilateral trade between India and Trinidad & Tobago, currently estimated at around USD 340 million has evolved significantly over the past decade, particularly in manufacturing and industrial collaboration. India’s exports include pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, machinery, and plastics, while imports are led by mineral fuels, petrochemicals, and metals, underlining a complementary trade structure.” Added Dr. Kalantri.
Mr. Naveen Seth, Deputy Secretary General, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized that, “the importance of institutional cooperation, stronger industry linkages, and sustained engagement to deepen trade between India and the Caribbean region, noting that such delegations play a crucial role in enhancing collaboration and expressing confidence in greater engagement in the coming times.”
Mr. Emil Ramkissoon, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association, said, “Trinidad & Tobago may be a small nation, but we are a hub for business in the Caribbean. Any company looking to access the region can work through us. This visit reflects our intent to build long-term partnerships with India, both for sourcing and market expansion.”
Mahindra Ramdeen, CEO, TTMA, said “We punch beyond our weight. With a population of around 1.4 million, we compete with global players by focusing on niche sectors. The scale we see is not limited to our country but extends across the Caribbean ecosystem, where partnerships with India can grow simultaneously.”
Hemanshoo Aggarwal, Export Director, AS International, highlighted the practical potential of the region, citing examples of Indian companies expanding into Trinidad & Tobago and further into Caribbean markets such as Jamaica.”
The event witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between World Trade Center Mumbai, All India Association of Industries, and Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association to promote trade cooperation, facilitate business exchanges, and encourage joint ventures.
The delegation represented strong opportunities across sectors such as manufacturing, chemicals, energy, food processing, logistics, education, cosmetics, musical instruments and construction, while also emphasizing the need to strengthen trade facilitation and improve information dissemination to fully unlock the potential of bilateral engagement.
While proposing the Vote of Thanks, Ms. Priya Pansare, Director, Trade & Investment Promotion, WTC Mumbai, highlighted that India has witnessed tremendous growth over the past decade and is poised for even greater expansion in the coming decade. She said, “the strong inflow of FDI, the vision of Viksit Bharat, and the remarkable economic progress of Maharashtra, emphasizing that these developments are creating significant opportunities for enhanced trade and investment.”
The event reaffirmed WTC Mumbai’s continued commitment to promoting international trade, fostering global partnerships, and supporting Indian businesses in accessing scalable opportunities across regions such as the Caribbean.
For Further Information:
Ms. Priya Pansare,
Director, Trade and Investment Promotion,
World Trade Center Mumbai
research@wetrade.org
