Trinidad & Tobago

Many of CARICOM’s economies are characterised by large natural resource bases, with a number of important recent oil and gas discoveries made of late. These countries do, however, also continue to face several parallel challenges including high levels of public debt.

Trinidad and Tobago has played a crucial role in the integration of the Caribbean, particularly among the anglophone countries of the region, for decades now. A promoter of the Treaty of Chaguaramas in 1973, the first step towards deeper regional integration after the mixed fortunes of the establishment of the short-lived West Indies...

While the economic upheavals of recent years have posed challenges for Trinidad and Tobago’s insurance sector, the industry remains resilient overall. In 2017, as it experienced economic downturn with the GDP contracting by 6.1% in 2016 and 2.6% in 2017, the country was affected by over TT$35bn ($5.2bn) in insured losses as a result of the...

While advanced economies generate the vast majority of insurance and reinsurance business, emerging markets are posting higher rates of growth. Complementing this underlying trend is a strong and expanding interest in catastrophic risk, which by nature tends to pertain to emerging markets. This is coming alongside fast-paced, sector-...

Capital market debt issuances out of Trinidad and Tobago remain relatively flat year-on-year. After a peak performance in 2016, when 25 issues raised $13.5bn, the primary market generated an approximate $12bn in 2017 across 27 issues, and a further $12bn in the first eight months of 2018. Debt issues in the country have predominantly stemmed...

Vibrant capital markets generally rely on two critical ingredients: a comprehensive regulatory framework and a wide investor base. The Trinidad and Tobago Securities Exchange Commission, in conjunction with market participants, has made considerable strides in addressing the first of these elements over the past two decades, though certain...