Trinidad and Tobago calls for firms to invest, manage Port of Spain port

The government of Trinidad and Tobago, along with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF), has requested expressions of interest to form a PPP to invest in and manage Port of Spain port.

The members of the PPP will manage cargo services and could also oversee the expansion of the port which, according to the BNamericas database, will cost an estimated US$200mn.

The aim is to enhance the port’s competitiveness, boost trade and development, and optimize the port’s capacity with phased investments, the IDB said. 

The call for expressions of interest, published by the chief procurement officer, states that interested parties are now able to submit applications to pattprocurement@ngc.co.tt.  

“I can safely say that we all fully agree on the strategic importance of improving port efficiency in line with Trinidad and Tobago’s National Development Strategy, also called Vision 2030,” minister of planning and development Pennelope Beckles-Robinson during a speech earlier this year to launch the PPP project.

“Participation from the private sector is critical, especially in times when public funding has to be stretched further,” she added.

Public administration minister Allyson West told BNamericas in July that the PPP would also focus on the refurbishment of the port so it can receive Panamax ships. 

"We're hoping that not only would they improve our current operations, but that they will expand the operations to include the facility to accept Panamax vessels because that’s one of the key limitations we have. We can only receive very small vessels at the moment," she said.