CSD-7:
Sustainable Development Success Stories

Employment Impact of Investment in the Manufacturing Sector of Trinidad and Tobago

Location  Trinidad and Tobago.
Responsible Organisation United Nations Industrial Development Organization on behalf of United Nations Development Programme.
Description The study focussed on linkage and multiplier effects in three main clusters of industries. It derived a set of concrete policy recommendations to increase investment in manufacturing and enhance the job creation effect thereof. This was a study to uncover the reasons why past investments in manufacturing in Trinidad and Tobago had been so disappointing in terms of employment generation and, hence, poverty alleviation. It started in February 1998 and was substantially completed by June of the same year. The final report and recommendations were presented to a public/private sector forum in November to continue the dialogue process begun with the first presentation in April.
Issues Addressed Sustainable development of Small Islands Developing States (SIDS).
Results Achieved A dozen specific policy recommendations and a process of policy dialogue between the private and the public sector were initiated. Relevant government departments and the business community were intimately associated with the exercise. A number of specific recommendations were formulated during a one-day seminar in April 1998. The dialogue brought together all the major stakeholders, including a significant number of prominent business leaders, who expressed interest in institutionalising the consultation process. The UNDP office on Port of Spain acts as the platform and convenor of this sort of "business advisory forum".
Lessons Learned

  • Although at first unfamiliar to the parties, the format for presenting preliminary and final results for open discussion between public and private sector representatives was quickly adopted, and clearly appreciated.

  • In a politically polarized country like Trinidad and Tobago, it pays to have project personnel that is keenly tuned to the local, political realities.
Contact Cai O. Falcke, Senior Economist
UNIDO/ IPC/ IPR
PO Box 300
A-1400 Vienna Austria
Tel. (43-1) 26026-3634 Fax (43-1) 26026-6859
Email: falcke@www.unido.org