(l-r) Melissa Pierre - Initiatives and Projects Manager | 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 - CEO | AMCHAM T&T CEO
MEDIA RELEASE
15/07/2026
The American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T) hosted an exclusive roundtable for members with senior representatives of the U.S. State Department and the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) on July 14. The engagement was designed as the first in a series to create a unique opportunity for members to present bankable investment projects directly to the DFC.
The high-level engagement was led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti, Barbara Feinstein; Chief Policy Officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Caroline Vik; U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Philip Kern; other representatives of the U.S. Embassy; AMCHAM T&T CEO, Nirad Tewarie; Initiatives and Projects Manager, Melissa Pierre; and members of AMCHAM T&T.
The roundtable was designed to connect companies seeking financing of US$5 million and above with the main international private sector lending entity of the U.S. Government. The DFC is specifically interested in supporting commercially viable projects across sectors, including, but not limited to, port redevelopment, digital transformation, offshore energy, maintenance, pipeline development, manufacturing, critical infrastructure, and other strategic industries.
Prior to the meeting, participating companies were invited to prepare presentations outlining the commercial viability, financing requirements, current stage of development, and anticipated economic impact of their projects. During the session, members presented their investment proposals directly to the visiting delegation, while other participants engaged in discussions on the DFC's financing mandate, investment criteria, and approach to supporting private sector investment in emerging markets.
As a direct outcome of the meeting, the DFC requested presentations from the participating companies, including PWC, ProMan, Freetown Collective, TOSL, Innovative Solutions Ltd & Tech Investments Ltd. Following this engagement, follow-up discussions will be held with individual companies to explore potential financing opportunities.
AMCHAM T&T CEO Nirad Tewarie said the engagement reflects AMCHAM T&T’s strong commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for members while strengthening Trinidad and Tobago's investment ecosystem. "One of AMCHAM T&T's most important roles is creating opportunities that help our members grow, invest, and compete internationally. This roundtable gave companies operating in Trinidad and Tobago direct access to senior decision-makers within one of the world's premier development finance institutions and opened the door for commercially viable local projects to be considered for international financing. These are exactly the kinds of connections that can unlock new investment and create long-term value for our economy."
Tewarie added that "Access to multiple sources of financing can be catalytic for business growth. Financing of this nature has the potential to stimulate innovation, expand exports, create high-quality jobs, improve productivity, and strengthen our country's competitiveness. Ultimately, these are the partnerships that can help drive sustainable economic diversification and long-term national development."
The meeting also highlighted the strong partnership between AMCHAM T&T and the U.S. Embassy, which continues to create valuable opportunities for members to engage with U.S. Government agencies, international investors, and development partners. Through engagements such as this, AMCHAM T&T remains committed to expanding access to financing, strategic partnerships, and investment opportunities that strengthen the competitiveness of Trinidad and Tobago's private sector.
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For further questions or comments please contact: Nirad Tewarie, CEO AMCHAM T&T at niradtewarie@amchamtt.com.