It is a pleasure and an honour to address this distinguished gathering today, especially in the context of such a timely and vital topic: the role of Environmental, Social, and Governance or ESG initiatives in building a more resilient and inclusive Trinidad and Tobago.

At the outset, I wish to commend the executive, staff and partners of the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago for your bold leadership in advancing this national conversation on ESG. It is vital that this in not just a one-off event, but a sustained, strategic and inclusive initiative. Kudos on your decision to evolve the ESG agenda into a necessary three-part event series. Taking the issues we face today into consideration, such as climate change, economic inequality, social instability, and governance challenges, we require more than words, overcoming these challenges demands year-round collaboration, practical action, and visionary leadership across all sectors of our society.

I am also very pleased that you chose to have this event at the Asa Wright Nature Centre. We all are aware of the struggles businesses faced during the pandemic and the potential loss of this facility struck a chord with the citizens of this country. But I am glad the Centre is up and running and they have found ways to build a viable business model. I am also told that they are a recipient of a grant from the Shaping the Future of Innovation Project, which is a partnership between the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, the EU and the IDB. They were able to use their grant to build more renewables into their energy mix at the Centre and thereby transforming it into a greener space. Kudos to team at Asa Wright for a job well done.

In this light, the Government views ESG not as a trend or a box to be ticked, but as a framework for shaping national resilience, economic transformation and sustainable prosperity. Fundamental to this transformation is the principle of partnership. No one sector can address these challenges alone. That is why public-private collaboration is not only desirable, it is indispensable.

I understand that this ESG series focuses on integrating ESG principles into both national and corporate strategies. This is exactly the approach we need. It is no longer enough to look at economic growth in isolation. We must now ask: is our growth sustainable? Is it equitable? Is it governed with transparency, integrity, and accountability?

This government has set out amidst a framework that considers ESG not as three separate silos, but as an interconnected framework for long-term value creation. For us, this involves:
• Environmental management: How do we adapt to and mitigate the climate impacts that threaten our coastal communities, our biodiversity, food security and other ways of life?
• Social considerations: How do we create more inclusive and equitable systems that uplift all citizens, provide opportunities for prosperity and self-actualisation, especially for our most vulnerable?
• And in terms of Governance, how do we foster transparency, enforce compliance, engender efficiency and build trust in both public institutions and private enterprises?
In the context of the above, today’s business of sustainability is no longer peripheral to the bottom line, it is the bottom line. ESG is not simply a reporting requirement. It is an investment strategy, a risk management tool, and a value creation mechanism for corporations and countries alike.

For us in Trinidad and Tobago, and indeed the wider Caribbean, the urgency is even greater. We are facing the existential threat of climate change, mounting development pressures, as well as the persistent challenge of limited fiscal space. In such a context, the integration of ESG principles into national and corporate strategies is beyond an option. The key to unlocking its potential lies in strategic public-private partnerships. Part of my mandate is to engender this and I have already begun meeting private sector entities such as AMCHAM TT with the intent on finding mutually beneficial actions geared towards inclusive national development.

I want to talk frankly about climate finance. The global commitment of one hundred billion annually remains unfulfilled, access, particularly for small island developing states like ours has been riddled with bureaucracy, inconsistent definitions, and uncertain timelines. Despite these constraints, we cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. The business community must become an active partner in accessing and deploying climate finance, not only through investment but also through innovation.

Climate financing in the form of loans is not viable. This worsens debt burdens, limiting development space. What we must do is collectively advocate for more concessional financing, grants and innovative instruments like green bonds, sustainability-linked financing with blended finance mechanisms, all of which are increasingly being unlocked through private capital markets.

This government is set out to do its part working with regional and international partners to streamline access, build capacity, and ensure that our development strategies align with global climate goals and national needs. However, I must add that the commitment from organisations such as AMCHAM TT is encouraging.

While many businesses today have embraced ESG, we must guard against the risks of virtue signalling. Lofty goals without accountability or sustainability branding that masks unsustainable operations, undermine investor confidence and public trust. This is why development of a robust national ESG reporting framework that is both fit-for-purpose and responsive to our local realities is a key factor. However, we recognize this cannot be done in a vacuum. It must be co-created with input from the business community, financial institutions, civil society, and academia.

Let me be clear: the private sector is not just a beneficiary of ESG, you are a critical driver of its success. Whether it's deploying Artificial Intelligence for corporate integrity, integrating ESG risk into boardroom strategy or pursuing green infrastructure investments, your leadership matters. Your actions, innovations, and investments will define the kind of economy we build. Government needs your participation in setting priorities, sharing data, co-financing solutions and scaling innovations. We need your voice in shaping policies that are not only globally aligned but also locally effective.

The opportunity here is not just to comply with ESG, it is to lead it. Trinidad and Tobago can be a model for the region as a place where business success and sustainability go hand in hand.

If ESG is to become more than a trend, we must evolve how we work together. The traditional model of PPPs focused solely on infrastructure must give way to transformational partnerships that also deliver on social equity, environmental protection and transparent governance.

I see tremendous opportunities here:
• In green financing: Let’s co-create new vehicles to de-risk sustainable investments and attract private capital to climate-resilient infrastructure.
• In skills and innovation: Let’s find ways to jointly build the human capital needed to power a low-carbon economy.
• In governance: Let’s work together to establish standards that improve transparency, accountability, and trust across both public institutions and private enterprises.

Ladies and gentlemen, climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is a daily reality for many of our citizens, threatening livelihoods, disrupting ecosystems, and testing our economic resilience. Yet within this challenge lies a powerful opportunity to reshape our economy, redefine competitiveness and reimagine growth through the lens of sustainability.
It will require bold leadership from government—but it will also require bold partnership from you.

Let us work together to build an ESG ecosystem that goes beyond compliance, one that creates jobs, attracts investment while enhancing national resilience. Let us move from dialogue to design. From commitment to collaboration. From intention to measurable impact.

Let this be the moment we decide together that the future of Trinidad and Tobago will be green, inclusive, and governed with integrity.

I thank you all for sharing with us.