The competitive imperative

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - There is an obvious irony in the hemispheric choice of Trinidad and Tobago as the venue for the eighth Americas Competitiveness Forum in October 2014.
The most recent World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report moved T&T from 86 out of 133 countries in 2010, to 81 out of 142 countries in 2012. On the Global Innovation Index, Trinidad and Tobago now ranks 81 out of 125 countries in 2012, a steep drop from the 2010 baseline ranking of 55.
But, in a society where the opinion of foreigners too often carries more weight than our view of ourselves, such a major international event could spur action to make this place more of a model of competitive economic performance. T&T, having gained experience in 2009 in holding two large international summits, seems set to collaborate effectively with the Organisation of American States (OAS) organisers.