NEWLY-ELECTED TTMA president Dale Parson says one of his strategic goals will be to grow non-energy exports from the $6.2 billion recorded at the end of 2024 to $10.6 billion by the end of 2030.
His projections would see a six per cent growth in 2025 followed by a consecutive ten per cent growth each year from 2026 to 2030.
He said he aspires to work with those in authority in creating an enabling environment for pure non-energy exports.
"Increasing exports to $10.6 billion by 2030 is not an audacious goal but a necessary one," he said at the TTMA's leadership discussion and networking event at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, on April 9.
"And to be clear, from a TTMA perspective, this non-energy export figure discounts items that are not pertinent to the efforts of our members. Such as downstream derivatives of energy re-exports and some classified as non-energy manufacturing items such as ammonia and scrap metals.
"I am making this distinction in the classification of non-energy goods with the understanding that there are a number of different classifications in the public space."
He said while all classifications have merit, the TTMA is only concerned with purely non-energy manufactured goods.
[caption id="attachment_1148731" align="alignnone" width="1024"] In this file photo, US President Donald Trump announces new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington. - AP PHOTO[/caption]
Parson said the disruption of the ten per cent tariff on TT’s imports to the US announced on April 2 and proposed taxation for Chinese-built vessels entering US ports will not render the TTMA inactive. He spoke before US president Donald Trump announced a 90-day hold on tariffs, except for China, on April 9.
"We will adapt, be innovative and dynamic. That is what my team will seek to bring to the forefront to its members.
"In every disruptive event, there will be opportunities. We just need to seek out the low-hanging opportunities carefully.
"For example, we continue to have preferential trade agreements with Canada and the EU.
"There are greater opportunities not just within Caricom but with Caricom’s Dominican Republic and Costa Rica bilateral agreements."
In his second strategic goal, Parson aims to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which account for 85 per cent of local businesses, in boosting commercialisation for local retail and export.
"Of our 738 members, less than ten per cent of them are SMEs. Most of these SMEs have an interest in engaging in trade. But some have challenges registering their business, creating product barcodes and creating an export plan. This could curtail the advancement of their operations.
[caption id="attachment_1148732" align="alignnone" width="1024"] TTMA leads a delegation on its cruise ship trade mission. -[/caption]
"So my objective as president is to invite these SMEs to join us and reach out to the TTMA so we can help them grow their business."
The acquisition of a 20-acre parcel of land in a centralised area for the construction of a
