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Strengthening Strategic Ties:
U.S. Senior Officials Engage T&T Private Sector on Energy, Investment and Security​​
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LINKAGE Q2 (2026) - IMPACT
AMCHAM T&T, in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago, hosted two high-level engagements in July and August 2026 that underscored the growing importance of the relationship between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with AMCHAM T&T and senior private-sector representatives during a special dinner on August 10 at Fanatic Kitchen Studio in Port of Spain. The engagement, held under the theme “T&T’s Next Chapter: Energy, Investment, and Supply Chain Security,” focused on issues central to Trinidad and Tobago’s economic future and its longstanding relationship with the United States. It brought together leaders from major investors, creating an important platform for exchange on Trinidad and Tobago’s economic outlook and opportunities for deeper U.S.–Trinidad and Tobago commercial cooperation.
Joining Deputy Secretary Landau and U.S. Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Philip Kern were the event’s hosts, AMCHAM T&T President Anna Henderson and CEO Nirad Tewarie, together with senior representatives from bp Trinidad and Tobago, Shell Trinidad and Tobago Limited, Pinnacle Steel and Vanadium, Hummingbird AI and Curley Midstream.
“We are deeply honoured to welcome Deputy Secretary Landau to Trinidad and Tobago and grateful that he took the time to engage directly with members of our business community,” said Henderson. “Conversations at this level allow our members to better understand the evolving priorities of the United States while also sharing the opportunities and challenges that are shaping Trinidad and Tobago’s investment and business environment.”
Meanwhile, Nirad Tewarie added, “strong relationships are built through dialogue, and we believe engagements like this can help identify areas where Trinidad and Tobago and the United States can deepen cooperation as well as foster greater collaboration among companies themselves. Deep economic relations are the cornerstone of enduring state-to-state relations, so we look forward to even more U.S. investment and expansion of trade between our countries in the near future.”
Deputy Secretary Landau expressed optimism for the future of economic relations between T&T and the U.S. He stressed that commercial ties are an often-undervalued tool in the development of relations between states and that while there is more to be done, recent investments and continued interest by U.S. firms in T&T are reasons to be optimistic about the deepening of economic relations. He stressed that the United States Government is actively working to support the development of private sector projects that can benefit the local economy and further deepen economic ties between our two countries.
The Deputy Secretary’s visit followed an earlier high-level AMCHAM T&T roundtable with senior representatives of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) on July 14.
Led by Barbara Feinstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti, and Caroline Vik, Chief Policy Officer of the DFC, alongside Chargé d’Affaires Philip Kern and representatives of the U.S. Embassy, the roundtable provided AMCHAM T&T members with direct access to one of the U.S. Government’s key development finance institutions.
(l-r) Melissa Pierre, AMCHAM T&T; Scott Hansen, Deputy Chief of Mission (Ag.), U.S. Embassy; Caroline Vik, Chief Policy Officer, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC); Barbara Feinstein - Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti; Philip Kern, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires; Nirad Tewarie, AMCHAM T&T
The engagement was designed to connect companies seeking financing of US$5 million and above with the DFC and explore potential financing opportunities for commercially viable projects in Trinidad and Tobago.
Participating companies presented projects spanning areas such as port redevelopment, digital transformation, offshore energy, maintenance, pipeline development, manufacturing and critical infrastructure. Following the session, the DFC requested presentations from participating companies, including PwC, PROMAN, Freetown Collective, TOSL, Innovative Solutions Ltd. and Tech Investments Ltd., with follow-up discussions expected to explore potential financing opportunities.
“Access to multiple sources of financing can be catalytic for business growth,” Tewarie said following the DFC engagement. “Financing of this nature has the potential to stimulate innovation, expand exports, create high-quality jobs, improve productivity and strengthen our country’s competitiveness.”
As Trinidad and Tobago navigates its next phase of economic development, strengthening its relationship with the United States remains strategically important. AMCHAM T&T’s continued engagement with senior U.S. Government officials and agencies builds bridges between business, government and international partners to create opportunities for investment, financing and strategic cooperation.