TRADE, Investment and Tourism Minister Satyakama Maharaj says the time has come to move from talk to action by establishing regular air links between Trinidad and Tobago and West Africa, calling it a crucial step toward unlocking a new era of transatlantic trade, investment and cultural exchange.

Speaking at the 2025 Annual Transatlantic Trade and Investment Symposium, held at the VIP Lounge of the Queens Park Savannah, Maharaj said the Government is actively pursuing partnerships with regional airlines and stakeholders to make direct connectivity between Trinidad and Tobago and West Africa a reality.

He pointed to a recent seven-and-a-half-hour direct flight by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Accra to Port of Spain, calling it a groundbreaking moment that underscored both the feasibility and urgency of closing the logistics gap.

His flight took just 90 minutes more than a typical flight from Trinidad to Toronto. It proves that direct connectivity between our region and West Africa is not only possible, its practical. But if we cannot easily access a market, we cannot effectively do business, Maharaj noted.

In an interview with the media, Maharaj confirmed that discussions have begun with Caribbean Airlines and the Ministry of Finance about launching weekly or biweekly routes to West Africa.

Were initiating discussions. Caribbean Airlines may or may not be the long-term player, but were pushing to get that first agreement signed, he said.

T&Ts geographic position gives it a unique advantage, Maharaj said.

We are the Caribbean nation closest to West Africa, positioned to be a natural bridge between Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa, he said.

But he cautioned that physical distance must no longer be a barrier, citing his own experience during a recent trip to Ghana.

On my last trip to Ghana, I had to fly nine hours to London overnight, then take another long-haul flight to Accra. It was expensive, exhausting, and inefficient. How can we build lasting partnerships if it takes two days to get there?

He also recalled an emotional encounter at the Accra airport.

The immigration officer looked at my passport and said, Thats an Indo-Caribbean person. Welcome home, sir. I felt ten feet tall. They see us as family, and they are ready to do business.

With direct flights, stronger financial ties, and a shared vision for growth, Maharaj said the path forward is clear.

Let us not allow this moment to pass. The opportunities are real. The time is now, he said.

Ongoing talks with Afreximbank

Maharaj also noted that the Government is in active talks with the African Export-Import Bank to expand financing options and support joint ventures between African and Caribbean businesses.

None of this is possible without access to finance. This is why the Government is pursuing deeper cooperation with institutions like Afreximbank to support investment and innovation. We already have some projects lined up, and were looking to move swiftly.

Maharaj highlighted the continents growing population, rising urbanisation, and expanding middle class as indicators of a vibrant consumer market ripe for partnership.

This is not about turning away from our traditional strengths, but rather building on them to expand into new, high-growth sectors. That means investing in agri-value chains, scaling up manufacturing, modernising tourism, advancing healthcare, and unleashing the creative industries, he said.

Maharaj praised the African Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago for its decades-long commitment to honouring the past while advocating for stronger economic ties. He described the shared heritage between Trinidad and Tobago and West Africa as both a cultural bond and an untapped economic opportunity.

We must transform the memory of the Middle Passage into a bridge of prosperity. That bridge will carry not only goods and services but also ideas, investment, and innovation.

Referencing this years theme of the symposium, Opportunities for Economic Diversification and Resilience through Expansion of Trade and Investment with West Africa, Maharaj said, it captures the urgency of the moment as global supply chains and trade patterns shift.

He also highlighted the recent bilateral investment treaty signed between T&T and Ghana as a pivotal development, offering legal protection and dispute-resolution mechanisms for investors.

This treaty is far more than symbolic. It provides a solid framework for private sector confidence, knowledge transfer, and sustainable job creation.

He also proposed a Partial Scope Agreement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as the next step to facilitate trade expansion.