The Greater San Fernando Area Chamber of Commerce has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative poised to reshape the economic landscape of southern Trinidad. The Southern Investment and Marketing Co-operative Credit Union Society (SIMCO-OP), set to launch early next year, aims to provide tailored financial solutions for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). This initiative is expected to unlock new opportunities for financing, wealth creation, and business growth in the region.
Kiran Singh, president of the chamber, announced the initiative during the annual Christmas charity event, ‘Mix and Mistletoe,’ held on November 15 at Achievors Banquet Hall in La Romaine. Singh emphasized that SIMCO-OP will not only facilitate business development but also foster job creation and wealth generation. The cooperative plans to host pop-up markets and workshops to support entrepreneurs and the broader community.
In addition to SIMCO-OP, the chamber is rolling out a comprehensive health plan for its 153 members and introducing a multi-faceted discount card to reduce operational costs. These efforts underscore the chamber’s commitment to enhancing its role in the national financial system and bolstering the economic resilience of its members.
The chamber is also expanding its international presence, with members participating in global trade events such as the Consumer Electronics Show in the US, a pharmaceutical expo in India, and trade forums in China. A recent seminar on ‘doing business with India,’ hosted in collaboration with the Indian High Commissioner, further broadened international trade opportunities.
Regionally, the chamber has forged ties with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce in Guyana, with a trade mission planned for the new year. Exploratory engagements with the Jamaican market are also on the horizon for 2026. These partnerships aim to provide southern businesses with access to shared information networks and new markets.
The chamber is collaborating with the San Fernando City Corporation to upgrade public spaces like Harris Promenade and enhance security measures. Two televisions were donated to the TT Police Service for improved monitoring in downtown San Fernando, with local businesses contributing CCTV cameras.
Singh highlighted the chamber’s efforts to restore San Fernando’s status as Trinidad and Tobago’s industrial capital. He encouraged members to explore opportunities in the global services sector, a trillion-dollar industry with significant potential for export diversification and foreign-exchange earnings.
Neil Gosine, parliamentary secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism, commended the chamber for its dual focus on economic leadership and social responsibility. He outlined several government projects under the TT Revitalisation Blueprint, including a waterfront redevelopment in San Fernando, a new highway, and the transformation of a legacy hospital into a modern health city. These initiatives aim to create over 50,000 jobs and position Trinidad and Tobago as a global investment and tourism hub.
Gosine also announced the upcoming launch of the Private Sector Organisation of TT (PSOTT) and a ‘Buy Local, Build Trinbago’ campaign to reduce import dependency and boost domestic production. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting private-sector growth as a cornerstone of national development.