Last elections in 2000. This shift in emphasis away from crude oil production is to cash in on the abundant natural gas supplies which are used as a feedstock in the domestic production of methanol and ammonia for export. In 1998 production of these products amounted to 1.9m tonnes and 2.9m tonnes respectively, making Trinidad and Tobago one of the world's largest producer of both commodities. In 1999, a huge Atlantic Liquefied Natural gas project came on stream, catering for export production of the gas as a fuel. This is a significant boost to output in the natural gas sub-sector.
Sugar is the major cash crop.
Others include coffee, cocoa and citrus. Tourism is an important growth sector. A good blend of cultural diversity and special interest areas are among the features supporting this sector. Additionally, the ability to attract large-scale international events has been proven. The famous annual carnival offers much potential for boosting this sector.