Trinidad and tobago Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in trinidad and tobago, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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eCommerce
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General Overview

Amazon is the top online retailer in Trinidad and Tobago with buyers skewing younger.

Legal & Regulatory

The GoTT highlighted several priorities for its e-legislative agenda including amending existing legislation, updating the Data Protection Act, finalizing the Cybercrime Bill, amending the Telecommunications Act, and introducing legislation to introduce a national digital identity.  In 2011, the Electronic Transaction Act came into effect, providing the legal framework for secure electronic commerce.  Since then, and particularly due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, eCommerce has grown in significance, with a larger number of businesses (utilities, banks, and most recently retail establishments) offering the option to pay bills and make purchases online or via mobile phone.

Consumer Behavior

Internet shopping is popular in TT.  While the local eCommerce sector is still in its infancy, the largest eCommerce retailer is Amazon.  The COVID-19 pandemic forced local businesses to rethink their eCommerce strategies and has spurred local growth since 2021.  There are no local requirements for businesses selling online in the market, but foreign exchange limitations may impede growth.  The key digital statistics for TT in January 2023 indicate:

  • Population: 1.4 million
  • Internet users: 1.21 million
  • Internet penetration: 79 percent
  • Active social media users: 1 Million (65 percent of population)
  • Mobile connections: 1.93 million

Many people have more than one mobile connection, so the figure for mobile connections exceeds 100 percent of the total population.  The top eCommerce sites in TT are:

  • Amazon
  • Aliexpress
  • MyShopify
  • Alibaba
  • Ebay

Local service providers overview

Local Business Service Provider director: Gateway to Trade Catalogue - TTCSI