Delivered by Mr. Garvin Francis-Lau, Acting President Tourism and Industrial Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TIDCO) During the Launch of the Trinidad and Tobago Business Association On Saturday July 16, 2005 At the Offices of the Consulate General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, New York.

Excerpt from Statement:

On behalf of the Chairman and Board of Directors of TIDCO, I am pleased to extend sincerest congratulations and best wishes to you on the launch of The Trinidad & Tobago Business Association of New York. We would also like to say a heartfelt “thank you” because we now look to you as our official “partners” in the promotion of Trinidad and Tobago.

As you may know TIDCO’s mandate is to market and promote Trinidad and Tobago as the ideal place to do business. The tag lines on our ads note that ‘we’re the place that’s going places’ and we invite the world to ‘experience the energy that is Trinidad and Tobago’.

TIDCO has a strong tradition of working with the private sector, either directly or through its associations, in pursuing national development objectives. This collaboration has included numerous trade and investment missions annually to North America, Europe and Asia. It is in this context that we expect that you will now become one of our new Partners in promoting Trinidad & Tobago.