Trinidad and Tobago’s highly educated English-speaking workforce and our proximity to the United States made it an ideal location for advanced healthcare business support organisation Carenet Health, according to its chief operating officer Christopher Rogers.
In an interview with Sunday Express Business, Rogers said that T&T’s robust technology and real estate infrastructure provide the foundation necessary for operational excellence for theTexas-based company.
He said Carenet has plans to employ 250 people by the end of the year.
“By the end of 2025, we aim to employ 250 individuals and have expansion plans that will allow us to grow across several locations on the island for greater accessibility. We focus on empowering local talent by creating clear career paths, particularly for graduates in life sciences and healthcare. Our partnerships with local colleges and investment in employee development ensure a workforce that is both skilled and continuously growing,” he said.
The flagship delivery centre in Port of Spain—set to open this month— will offer over 200 health advisor positions along with roles in global support services like accounting, finance, human resources, information technology, and quality assurance.
“We’re committed to being not just an employer but a partner in T&T’s ongoing diversification beyond the oil and gas industries. Our aim is to provide high-quality, stable jobs to the country’s educated, skilled talent pool while contributing to local economic and social development,” said Rogers.
He added that though their services are not intended for companies or patients outside of the US, they are fully committed to being a competitive employer of choice in T&T.
“As a healthcare business services organisation, we partner with over 500 of the leading providers and payers in the US to deliver strategic, innovative solutions addressing the unique needs of the US healthcare system. While our services are not intended for companies or patients outside of the US, we are fully committed to being a competitive employer of choice in T&T. Our strategy includes offering professional jobs with attractive benefits and opportunities for career growth, ensuring a rewarding workplace for the country’s highly educated and skilled workforce,” said Rogers.
He added, “This investment not only reinforces our commitment to providing high-quality jobs but also contributes to T&T’s ongoing economic diversification and workforce development. By fostering local talent and offering long-term career opportunities, we aim to establish Carenet as a valued member of the business community in T&T.”
Beyond employment, he said the company also plans to integrate into the community, partner with local colleges to nurture talent and support initiatives like the Ministry of Education’s Adopt-A-School Programme.
“Our objective is to create a mutually beneficial relationship that enables sustained growth and success for both Carenet Health and the communities we serve,” he said.
Rogers said this is more than just job creation—it’s about building a sustainable, long-term partnership with T&T.
Though operations are carded to begin by the end of the month, Rogers said his team has been overwhelmed by the hospitality and support of T&T’s business environment.
He added that he and the team are excited to begin operations in T&T and work with the local market.
“Partnering with local stakeholders—from legal and financial advisors to interior designers and contractors—has been a truly rewarding experience. We’re especially excited about building relationships with the people of T&T. Employing local talent and integrating into the community are key priorities for us, and we’re eager to contribute to the country’s ongoing economic transformation. Our Port of Spain facility is more than a workplace; it’s a foundation for future growth in the Caribbean and Latin America. This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a long and successful partnership. We look forward to growing alongside the vibrant community and talented workforce of T&T,” said Rogers.
Rogers said Carenet Health plans to bring a distinctive offering to T&T by focusing exclusively on supporting the US healthcare market, setting us apart from local operations that may serve regional or domestic needs.
Carenet Health is one of the first companies to receive approval for the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) licence four months after the SEZ Act was fully proclaimed.
The SEZ regime is touted as a comprehensive investment framework designed to attract both local and international investment, boost exports and economic diversification, create new employment opportunities, and encourage increased private sector participation in the economy, all while adhering to globally accepted standards and best practices.
Rogers said the SEZ regime and T&T’s “generous economic incentives” played a significant role in the company’s decision-making process.
“It provides clear, valuable economic benefits such as value-added tax and duty exemptions on imported goods—important when setting up a new operations centre. We also had productive early discussions with the Minister of Trade and Industry, Paula Gopee-Scoon, who emphasised the alignment between Carenet’s objectives and the SEZ’s priorities.
“Being the first company designated within the SEZ gives us a unique first-mover advantage, allowing us to benefit from the programme’s initial rollout and participate in its development. The SEZ’s tailored incentives and robust support make it a truly compelling environment for business growth and one of the reasons we’re confident in our decision to establish here,” shared Rogers.
In July 2024, the City of Port of Spain was ranked the Fifth Top Value Destination for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) in the Latin America and Caribbean region.
The ranking was released on the Nearshore Value Index (NVI) 2024, a tool managed by the research and advisory team of Nearshore Americas, a prominent online content source for the nearshore services and outsourcing industry. The NVI identifies and ranks the locations which offer the best value for nearshore operations in BPO and software services.
