On Tuesday April 08, 2025, the Ministry of Trade and Industry launched five (5) new services as part of its TTBizLink services for two (2) key agencies, the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s Trade Licence Unit and Tourism Trinidad Limited, bringing the total number of services offered to fifty-three (53), spanning twenty-five (25) government agencies across (9) Ministries.
The new additions to the platform include:
- Notice of Intention to load scrap metal for export
- Permit for the shipment and/or alteration of scrap metal
- Permit for the shipment of broken machinery
- Interim approval for a Tourism Project – this service allows entities to receive incentives for the construction of practical tourism projects that would assist the development of the tourism industry.
- Duty Free Permit for a Tourism Project – this service allows entities who have been granted interim approval to submit a list of items to the imported free of customs duty for the respective project. Tourism Trinidad Limited will administer this service.
The further expansion of the platform comes on the heels of last year’s expansion that saw the integration of eleven (11) new offerings, including manufacturer and product registration for exports, local free sale certificates, controlled drug licences, several fisheries-related approvals, and scrap metal collector’s licences and scrap metal dealer’s licences. Six (6) of these services featured immediate online payment functionality, significantly improving accessibility and efficiency for users.
Underscoring government’s commitment to national development through the implementation of the National Digital Transformation Strategy 2024-2027, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Cory Belfon, in his remarks, indicated that there are now over 300 government services available to the public online.
Addressing the audience, Minister of Trade and Industry, Paula Gopee-Scoon indicated that the introduction of these new services, particularly for the scrap metal sector, was intended to streamline approvals, reduce processing times and strengthen oversight.
Speaking specifically to the tourism services, the Minister reiterated that these new services will support investment and development in the tourism sector, which is an important contributor to economic diversification.
