Prime Minister Kamla meets with President of the IADB

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar today, April 17 2013, met with the President of the Inter-American Development Bank, Mr. Luis Alberto Moreno, to discuss issues relating to Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean Region.

Trinidad and Tobago has enjoyed a long relationship with the Inter-Development Bank over the last four decades, having received support in the areas of education, health, housing, poverty alleviation, roads and highway development, agriculture, refinery upgrade and the investment environment.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar indicated that the “current portfolio for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is the largest ever with 30 operations valuing US$460.1 million” which the Prime Minister stated “attests to the Bank’s continuing support for the Government’s development efforts.”

Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar also raised several issues of concern including the decline in the number of Caribbean nationals serving in senior management positions of the Bank and Trinidad and Tobago’s continued concern for the economic well-being of the Caribbean. As the private sector is being targeted to play a major role in the growth and development of the Caribbean economies, Prime Minister expressed concern over the limited presence and contribution of the private sector arms of the Bank in the wider Caribbean Community.

Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar also thanked the President of the IDB for his commitment given to the Governor for Trinidad and Tobago, to support Trinidad and Tobago’s hosting of the VIII Americas Competitive Forum 2014.

The Prime Minister’s official visit to the U.S. continues with the Americas-Africa Business Forum to discuss “New Commercial Partnerships for Economic Growth” tomorrow, Thursday 18th April, 2013.

– Office of the Prime Minister