Placing Commercial Attachés Abroad

It is time – indeed well past time – for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to have in place a comprehensive commercial attaché programme at this country’s foreign Missions. For years now the matter has been talked about. From time to time, persons have been placed at various Missions abroad, given the title and tasked with promoting trade and investment. None have really worked out as planned.  In some cases, the wrong persons were chosen.  In others, persons with particular skills sets were not properly matched to the Missions to which they were posted.  In all cases, there has been no local backstopping and support for their activities. It is not surprising therefore that the rate of success of these past initiatives is so low.

Now, this Government has an opportunity to improve that dismal record. It should start by carefully selecting the persons to represent our commercial interests abroad. In 2011, it is necessary for these persons to be appropriately qualified, knowledgeable about the private sector in Trinidad and Tobago and the region and able to function at a high level (commercially and diplomatically) in overseas territories.

Then, a system of performance measurement must be put in place. Goals should be set in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade but also with interested private sector bodies and there should be measurable targets for which they are held accountable.  In order to get the best out of these individuals it might even be necessary to set in place a framework of incentives for performance above the expected level.

The future Commercial Attachés should also ideally have their own budget lines within the overall budget of the Mission, to allow for attendance at commercial shows and events, required travel, communications and entertainment.

They should have technical support within the Mission as well as support from both the public and private sectors in T&T to follow up initiatives and requests for information and guidance.

The Commercial Attaché must be in close, even constant contact, with the private sector in T&T via the various business organizations using the available communications technologies.

All future Attachés should first receive training on basic elements of diplomacy as well as Government’s foreign policy, since, although performing commercial diplomacy, they will need to be au courant with other aspects of our foreign policy as well as know the do’s and dont’s of traditional diplomacy.

In implementing the commercial attaché programme, priority should be given to both shoring up traditional export markets e.g. CARICOM and the United States while seeking to extend into Asia, Latin America and Africa in search of trade and investment. Properly done, it can support the work of the Competitiveness and Innovation Council and the Economic Development Board as well. This programme would allow Trinidad and Tobago to maintain leadership within the CARICOM region and to begin to support more effectively the export activities of its services providers and goods producers as they seek new business opportunities abroad.

The Chamber is pleased that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seems to be taking this approach and is consulting with business organizations. The Ministry should be given every support from all elements of Government in this initiative which it is leading.