Trinidad and Tobago is driving the digital transformation of its institutions

Digital transformation hinges on key areas such as interoperability, data management, digital identity, cybersecurity, open-source solutions and digital governance, as well as satellite imagery.

The experience gained by European Union countries in the design, governance and implementation of public digital infrastructure is seen as an advantage and added value in advancing along this path of digital transformation initiated by Trinidad and Tobago. This is why European leaders in digitalisation such as Estonia and Denmark have been selected, as they have demonstrated excellence in complementary aspects of digital transformation, ranging from interoperability and digital identity to user-centred services and digital governance.

Against this backdrop, the European Union’s Caribbean Cooperation Mechanism project has organised a visit to these Nordic countries to gain first-hand insight into the state of digital transformation in Estonia and Denmark.

The delegation, comprising seven members from Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence (MPAAI), was accompanied by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), the European Union (EU) Delegation and FIAP. The visit took place at a time when Trinidad and Tobago’s digital transformation strategy is being finalised, as two cooperation agreements on digital transformation and renewable energy have been signed in the country thanks to the EU’s Global Gateway Investment Agenda.

Meetings in Tallinn with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs provided an opportunity to discuss the priorities of both countries and to confirm how closely aligned their agendas are. One of the words that stood out most during these meetings was ‘trust’, a key element in building public confidence in this digital transformation.

In Copenhagen, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with StatensIT and the Agency for Climate, two Danish government agencies. The former, under the Ministry of Finance, serves as the central hub for the state’s digital operations. The second is responsible for providing data and digital infrastructure that supports the country’s green climate transition and climate adaptation through the storage, management and distribution of geospatial and climate data used by the authorities for planning, decision-making and climate resilience.

During the visit, public institutions emphasised that digital transformation in both countries can only be achieved through public-private partnerships. These models have served not only to spark the delegation’s curiosity, raise far-reaching strategic questions and address concerns regarding the functioning of various applications, but also to focus attention on the design of the digital transformation roadmap to be followed in Trinidad and Tobago over the coming years. A visit featuring high-level exchanges that will undoubtedly be key to defining the Caribbean nation’s next steps on its digital journey.