Sponsors information

Trinidad & Tobago Manufacturers Association
http://www.ttma.com

Fifty-three years ago, a dream by eight visionaries was realized when the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association was formed. Developed for the specific purpose of promoting local industry, this group of entrepreneurs recognized the need for a unifying organization. From these eight pioneer firms, the TTMA has grown to more than 350 members.

Today, the TTMA has become an integral part of Trinidad and Tobago’s manufacturing sector and is dedicated to the development, diversification and promotion of local industries. TTMA offers a Secretariat which addresses a number of issues under our four pillars of Physical Infrastructure, Social Infrastructure, Sustainability and Growth. These four pillars guide us to ensure that all of our members needs are met such as Port and Logistics; Trade development; Policy creation; Networking; Education and Skills Development; OSHA and development of Renewable Industries.

The TTMA is the voice for business enterprise, articulating policy, providing quality service and contributing to sustainable economic growth and success. We deliver extraordinary results that serve the wider society; engendering trust, legitimacy and pride in our activities. We include all the social partners on a non-partisan basis.”

The TTMA’s services include:

• Organising local, regional and international trade fairs, exhibitions and foreign trade missions;
• Providing members with information on all local, regional and international trade related matters of relevance;
• Representing members at the various domestic, regional, hemispheric and international trade negotiation meetings;
• Encouraging members to maintain and adhere to required standards and grades of quality in all manufactured goods and services;

The Minstry of Trade and Industry
http://www.tradeind.gov.tt

As one of the frontline Ministries within the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) is leading the drive to position Trinidad and Tobago as a manufacturing base, and the business, trade, and financial hub of the Americas.

The Ministry’s core responsibility is the promotion and development of trade activities, with an emphasis on generating sustainable export-led growth and development, by securing enhanced access to foreign markets for companies located here. As the pivotal agency for trade promotion and development, MTI manages and coordinates the trade reform process to enhance this country's global competitiveness. The Ministry also spearheads activities to fulfill Government’s strategic objective of diversifying the Trinidad & Tobago economy.

This is closely tied to another critical mandate — the further development of industry in Trinidad and Tobago. In this regard, MTI is formulating more appropriate industrial, trade and services policies, designed to enhance the capability of the local industrial sector to maximise opportunities under the various trade agreements to which Trinidad & Tobago is signatory.

Since the non-energy manufacturing and services sectors have been identified as the engines of sustainable growth, much of the Ministry’s activities are geared towards creating a facilitatory and supportive environment for business. The mechanisms being used to achieve this include: support for business expansion and industrial restructuring, expansion of the export capability of local companies and development of the most appropriate legislative framework to support business and investment activities. Throughout this process, the staff of the Ministry works closely with key stakeholders in the business community — both indirectly and through the Ministry’s statutory boards and state agencies and enterprises.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry is also responsible for stimulating both domestic and foreign investment in the non-energy sectors, and is working to upgrade the entire framework for attracting investment — the lifeblood of industrial activity.

MTI conducts its affairs and provides required services with the highest regard and esteem for all clients and customers. The Ministry’s clients and customers are located within Trinidad & Tobago, as well as regionally and internationally, and are drawn from government circles, the private sector, and civil society in general.

First Citizens Bank
http://www.firstcitizenstt.com

Over the course of sixteen years, First Citizens has evolved into one of the region’s leading and most dynamic providers of financial products and services. This position is further strengthened by the acquisition of the largest full service securities company in the Caribbean, CMMB, on May 22, 2009.

First Citizens Bank continues to be the fastest growing and third largest bank in Trinidad and Tobago. Our 23 branches offer a full range of retail and commercial banking services, in addition to merchant and trustee services. Our Corporate Banking Unit provides access to a full range of financial services and has recently been involved in a number of landmark projects across the region. The strategic alliance with CMMB translates into a regional network of contacts and on-the-ground expertise in various locations that provide opportunities for large scale corporate and capital market transactions in the Caribbean. With an established presence in North America, First Citizens is now focusing on markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Two of the world’s leading credit rating agencies have graded the Bank the top regional investment ratings. The Bank enjoys a Moody’s A1 (Debt) and Baa1 (Institutional) rating and has received affirmation of its counterparty credit rating of ‘BBB+/A-2’ from Standard and Poor’s, making it the highest ranked indigenous bank in the English-speaking Caribbean. First Citizens remains the only wholly-local bank to float two US$100 million bonds (February 2004 and January 2005). The ratings of both bonds have also been affirmed at ‘BBB+’. The Bank has also been admitted to the International Finance Corporation’s B-Loan Programme.

Over the years, the robustness of our leadership has consistently helped to advance our technology, innovative offerings and profitability, and garnered numerous awards. The Group recently received awards from:

• ‘World Finance Magazine – World Finance Banking Awards 2009 - Best Bank, Trinidad and Tobago 2009
• Latin Finance – Bank of the Year, Trinidad and Tobago 2009
• The Banker Magazine – 2009 Bank of the Year, Trinidad & Tobago

Our cutting edge technology platform has won the South Chamber of Commerce Tyrone Samlalsingh Pinnacle Award three times for ‘Excellence In Innovation, Communications Technology and e-Commerce’.

The First Citizens Group consists of First Citizens Bank Limited, First Citizens Asset Management Limited, First Citizens Trustee Services Limited, First Citizens (St. Lucia) Limited, First Citizens Securities Trading Limited and Caribbean Money Market Brokers (CMMB).

The Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd
http://www.tstt.co.tt

The Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd. (TSTT) is the country’s largest and most advanced communications solutions provider. TSTT’s world class IP-based Next Generation core network delivers ‘Total Communications Solutions’ including cellular, Broadband (4G wireless and fixedline), IPTV entertainment, Security, Metro Ethernet and other Enterprise services.

Through its ‘blink’ and ‘bmobile’ networks, TSTT’s innovativeness has delivered virtually universal coverage for wireless and wired broadband access as well as GSM mobile coverage, giving Trinidad and Tobago a significantly high penetration rate for these services.

TSTT’s vision has always been ‘global’ – virtually any communications solution available in more developed countries is also available in Trinidad and Tobago. TSTT expertly leveraged this vision to support the hugely successful staging of two of the largest conferences ever hosted in Trinidad and Tobago: The Fifth Summit of The Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Investments in excess of TT$700M over the past 3 years has ensured that TSTT remains on the cutting edge of communications technology, a necessity for supporting Trinidad and Tobago's leading competitive position in the Caribbean. TSTT's development as a world-class communications solutions provider has also given local enterprises and locally-based multinational corporations a solid foundation for their own expansion and development strategies.

Looking ahead, the company will continue to play a major role in the government’s initiatives to bring an increasing range of government ministry services online and connect more homes and businesses to the Information Highway. TSTT is ensuring that it is competitively placed to support the convergence of voice, data and multimedia on a future-proof IP-based network. Having this flexibility will play a major role in supporting continued business development and economic growth in Trinidad and Tobago.

Research In Motion
www.rim.com

Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM technology also enables a broad array of third party developers and manufacturers to enhance their products and services with wireless connectivity to data. RIM’s portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry® wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld™ product line, software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware licensing agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. RIM is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.