Trinidad and Tobago’s journey towards digital transformation is set to accelerate with a TTD 23 million (3 million Euros) grant under the European Union’s (EU) Latin America and Caribbean Investment Facility (LACIF), through a blended arrangement with the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF). This funding will support the development of an electronic identity (e-ID), a public data interoperability platform, and the construction of a dedicated Tier-4 government data centre.
Senator the Honourable Hassel Bacchus, Minister of Digital Transformation hosted the official signing ceremony on Tuesday, February 4th 2025 which was attended by his ministerial colleagues, the Honourable Colm Imbert, Minister of Finance, Senator the Honourable Dr Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs; and Mr Gianpiero Leoncini, Executive Vice President of CAF, Mr David Mogollón, Head of Cooperation of the European Union in the Caribbean and, Mr Bernardo Requena, CAF’s Representative in Trinidad and Tobago.
Reflecting on the power of partnership, Minister Bacchus expressed his gratitude for the Ministry’s many partners and said, “We’re doing this for Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean.” Minister Browne echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that, “the benefits of this agreement go well beyond our jurisdiction of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Minister Imbert expressed his enthusiasm for the government data centre initiative, underscoring its significance in ensuring data security and sovereignty for the nation. Gianpiero Leoncini and David Mogollón advised of their anticipation of the impactful changes the digital initiatives would bring to Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean region and underscored the commitment of their organisations to continued collaboration with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
This grant marks a significant milestone in Trinidad and Tobago’s digital journey, reinforcing the Ministry’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance the lives and livelihoods of our citizens.