Ewart S Williams: Economic Outlook 2011
Address by Mr Ewart S Williams, Governor of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, on
the occasion of a panel discussion at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and
Commerce, Port-of-Spain, 14 January 2011.
* * *
Salutations:

The Honourable Stephen Cadiz

Members of the head table

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen
First, thanks for the invitation.
1. Before talking about the 2011 outlook, a brief word on 2010. Notwithstanding a slight
pick-up in the last quarter, for the year as a whole the preliminary data shows that the
economy was flat - no growth. This follows a decline of some 3 per cent in 2009. What this
means is that while many economies recovered from the global recession of 2008-2009, the
Caribbean, including Trinidad and Tobago was not so fortunate.
2. The energy sector continued to register positive growth but activity in the
nonenergy sector declined for the second consecutive year. For the period 2009-2010, activity
in the non-energy sector declined by a cumulative 10 per cent. Now, the non-energy
sector accounts for 97 per cent of total employment. If these estimates are correct, therefore,
it is more than likely that there is a significant increase in unemployment.
3. The economy and the population cannot afford a third year of economic stagnation
and therefore, in my brief statement, I have opted not to present a passive analytical
outlook but to identify the many positive characteristics that we could exploit to ensure
that we break the current economic malaise.
4. It is now generally accepted
that the global recovery in 2011 will be stronger than last
year. This is good news for our energy sector which could expect an increase in demand and
in prices for oil and petro-chemicals, in particular. The outlook with respect to gas is less
clear - although gas prices faced a sudden jump recently. Unfortunately, the short term
outlook is for continued reduction of oil production which has now fallen below
100,000 barrels per day. There is, however, scope for some growth in petro-chemical output
following the addition of new productive capacity. We therefore project that energy sector
value added would increase by 3.2 per cent in 2011, slightly more than last year.
5. As noted above, a recovery in the non-energy sector is urgently needed; and while
any pick-up in regional demand will help, that is not assured, the jolt must come from
domestic demand. In my view, many of the pre-conditions for resurgence in domestic
demand already exist. We need to take advantage of these.
6. The outturn for FY 2010 indicates that the fiscal impulse was far smaller than had
been envisaged (for several reasons). The fiscal stance announced in the current year
(FY11) is appropriately geared to supporting an economic recovery. The challenge is to
accelerate the implementation of some of the approved infrastructural projects so as to give
a much-needed boost to the construction sector. Obviously, a meaningful resumption in
construction activity would be facilitated by steps to clear outstanding arrears to contractors.
7. It is important to stress that we are talking about a temporary fiscal stimulus for
FY 2011, the plan being that Government also devises a fiscal framework to return to
(in the interest of reducing public debt).
budget balance as early as possible
8. Monetary conditions are ideal for a long-awaited resumption of private demand. With
significant unused productive capacity, considerable excess liquidity and with core inflation
expected to remain subdued, the Bank sees further room for lowering the policy interest
rate. In turn, we hope to see a much sharper reduction in bank lending rates. Last year, we
saw an appreciable reduction in mortgage interest rates but less so in other lending rates.
We think that current spreads could more than afford a sizable cut in bank lending rates.
9. Few banks have taken steps to facilitate lending to small businesses. However, data
on loan guarantees to small businesses, through the Business Development Company show
a continued decline. For the medium term, it will be important for Government, the banks and
the business sector to work to enhance small business development programmes.
10. The Central Bank is able to give the assurance that foreign exchange availability
would not be a bottleneck to production. As noted earlier, the prospect is for buoyant energy
prices. In addition, we expect foreign reserves to be supplemented by inflows related to oil
exploration activities and by proceeds of foreign loans. With official reserves now
equivalent to around 12 months import cover, the Bank is not targeting any additional
increase in official reserves in 2011.
11. A brief word on the foreign exchange market. This table shows that after a period of
substantial build-up from 2004 to 2008, the Central Bank has not been accumulating foreign
exchange reserves. For 2011, the target is for a slight reduction in official reserves. This
means that, excluding the HSF accumulation, the Bank intends to continue its programme of
expanded foreign exchange sales to the market.
12. The table also shows that the Central Bank has maintained its level of intervention
into the foreign exchange market even in the face of a sharp decline in imports.
13. It is still worth noting, however, that our small country cannot continue to afford
the level of foreign exchange leakage (call it capital flight, if you like) that we have been
financing in the past few years. Small countries like ours are not expected to be the source of
net capital outflows (non-trade related) on a sustainable basis.
14. The scenario that we are putting forward today is for real GDP growth of about 2 per
cent in 2011, led by developments in the energy sector but with the expectation of positive
growth in the non-energy sector for the first time in three years. Ordinarily, after a
pronounced downturn, employment generation lags economic recovery. However, the nature
of the expected fiscal stimulus in 2011 would imply some increase in employment in the
construction sector which should, at least, contain the unemployment rate at about 7 percent.
15. This scenario has several downside risks. First, there are the uncertainties related to
the expected recovery in the global and regional economy. You may recall that at the
beginning of last year, we also thought that the global economy was on the path of a strong
recovery, but growth slowed in the second and third quarter only to pick up again in the
fourth. In addition, however, there are the domestic factors which could continue to postpone
resurgence in business activity. Two such factors are a delay in the resolution of the Clico
crisis and a worsening of the industrial relations climate.
16. A word on inflation. In principle, the expected normalization of domestic agricultural
output should put downward pressure on food prices. There is now, however, heightened
concern about a global oil and food price shock which could have a significant impact on
domestic food prices (corn prices are 94 per cent higher than June 2010 lows: soya beans
are up 50 per cent and wheat is up 80 percent). At this stage, the Bank sees a reduction
in inflation to 7 - 8 per cent as being very feasible.
In summary, my message is that a much needed resurgence in economic activity in 2011 will
be greatly facilitated by a social compact - formal or implied, in which the various parties
recognize the urgency of their respective roles whereby for instance:
(i) The Government succeeds in the implementation of the needed fiscal stimulus,
including the reduction in arrears to contractors;
(ii) The Central Bank increases its intervention in the foreign exchange market as
needed;
(iii) The business sector operates with the needed trust and confidence, avoiding the
tendency to warehouse foreign exchange;
(iv) The banks accept the need for a larger reduction in interest rates and banking
spreads; and
(v) Where all the parties contribute to easing the industrial relations climate and
generally helping to restore confidence.
This is a tall order, but absolutely necessary.
Achieving medium term growth and stability presents even greater challenges, but the
immediate reactivation in economic activity will boost confidence and provide the breathing
space for this greater challenge.
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