CEO's MESSAGE
Why TECHNOLOGY Still Gives Me HOPE?
By Nirad Tewarie
CEO | AMCHAM T&T
One of my favourite moments at this year’s Tech Hub Islands Summit (T.H.I.S.) came just before the Opening Ceremony, when our President, Anna Henderson, joked that she finally understood why I loved this conference so much. Looking around the room, she said she could see exactly what made T.H.I.S. different.
She was right. There is something genuinely energising about bringing together people who are not simply talking about the future, but actively
building it.
Every year, T.H.I.S. reminds me that technology is no longer a conversation reserved for software engineers or global tech companies. It has become one of the most powerful forces shaping how we live, how we work, how businesses compete, and ultimately, how countries create prosperity. That is why this year’s theme – IMPACT – felt especially meaningful.
For too long, conversations around digital transformation have focused on the technology itself. Artificial intelligence. Cloud computing. Automation. Cybersecurity. But technology has never been the destination. Impact is.
The real question is not whether we adopt new technologies. The real question is whether those technologies are delivering on their promise. Are they improving productivity? Creating new opportunities? Strengthening businesses? Making people’s lives better?
I am pleased to say the answers came quickly at T.H.I.S. 2026.
SOLVING BUSINESS CHALLENGES TODAY
Across two days, we heard remarkable examples of companies from Trinidad and Tobago and across the region demonstrating how artificial intelligence, data, automation, cybersecurity and digital innovation are solving real business challenges TODAY – not in some distant future.
That is an important shift. Because successful digital transformation is no longer about keeping pace with global trends. It is essential to remaining competitive.
This matters enormously for Trinidad and Tobago. As a country, we possess many of the ingredients needed to become a regional leader in the digital economy. We have talented people, a sophisticated business community, a strategic location, and improving digital infrastructure. Combined with our strong energy sector and growing technology ecosystem, these strengths position us to attract investment, develop high-value industries, and create meaningful employment for future generations.
BUILDING DATA REQUIRES VISION
But none of this will happen automatically. Building a digital economy requires more than technology. It requires vision, collaboration, investment and a willingness to rethink how we educate, regulate, innovate and compete.
At AMCHAM T&T, we have long believed that technology is one of the most important enablers of economic growth and national development.
Through initiatives such as the Tech Hub Islands Summit, our partnership with The University of the West Indies Artificial Intelligence Research Centre, and our ongoing advocacy for digital transformation, cybersecurity and innovation, we are working to create an ecosystem where businesses can embrace change with confidence.
I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC
That is why I remain optimistic about what lies ahead. Technology continues to open doors to opportunities that simply did not exist a decade ago. Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries. Digital infrastructure is opening new markets. Data is becoming one of the world’s most valuable economic resources.
Countries that position themselves early will not simply adapt to the future – they will help define it. That is why the conversations we started at T.H.I.S. cannot end when the conference does. They must continue inside our boardrooms, our classrooms, our government agencies, our startups, and our communities.
Impact is not measured by ideas alone. It is measured by what we choose to build together. In this edition of LINKAGE, we explore the people, organisations, and ideas already making an impact – from business transformation and leadership to innovation, sustainability, and technology. I hope these stories inspire you as much as they inspired me.
The future is already taking shape. The opportunity now is to ensure Trinidad and Tobago plays a leading role in creating it.