The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is committed to the development of the creative sector and is aggressively pursuing an improvement in the country’s performance on Trade in Services through the exploration of new and existing opportunities for the Creative industries and Entertainment services.
Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr. Randall Karim, made this remark while delivering the Feature Address at the launch of the Animae Caribe Festival 2023 on October 25, 2023. The Festival celebrates its 22nd Edition this year, in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), as it continues to promote trade in services in the animation and digital media industry across the Caribbean region. This year’s festival runs from Oct 25 to Oct 28, 2023 and features animators from approximately 40 countries including Guyana, Jamaica, Martinique, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
During his remarks, Mr. Karim noted that through FilmTT, the Government has provided numerous opportunities for persons involved in animation, and has supported several successful films by local animators. He outlined some of the incentives made available to the creative industry. These include:
- The revised Research and Development Facility (RDF) administered by exporTT Limited which provides tiered funding for innovative, technology driven business ideas in the creative and other sectors up to a maximum of $1 million per beneficiary.
- The Film Rebate incentive which offers a tiered system of 12.5% to 35% rebate on a minimum expenditure of TT$630,000 up to a maximum of TT$51,200,000 for foreign production companies filming on location in Trinidad and Tobago, while local film producers are offered 35% rebate for expenditure from TT$100,000 up to a maximum of TT$51,200,000. An additional rebate of 20% is granted on the labour cost incurred in the hiring of local labour (i.e. citizens of Trinidad and Tobago) for a film production.
Mr. Karim also recognized the IDB and the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) for their collaborative work to support the local and regional Animation industry through the development of The Tamana Technology and Animation Production (TTAP) Factory at the Tamana InTecK Park at Wallerfield.
“The Factory is an incubator where animators can access the best technology and benefit from ongoing skills upgrades, marketing support and international industry connections required to expand exports. This investment also creates greater capacity for the production of local animation and positions Trinidad and Tobago as a regional leader in the Animation industry,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary, in concluding, commended the event organizer, Mrs. Camille Selvon-Abrahams, for hosting another edition of the Animae Caribe Festival and for her ongoing work in supporting the development of the Animation industry in establishing Trinidad and Tobago as an Animation hub in the region.
Also delivering remarks at the launch was Ms. Carina Cockburn, the IDB’s Country Representative for Trinidad and Tobago, who stated that the IDB has supported the growth and development of the Festival from its inception. Ms.Cockburn added that she saw investment in the animation industry as an opportunity for creative industries to contribute in a meaningful way to an alternate development trajectory, not only for Trinidad and Tobago but for the entire Caribbean.
