CANTO is poised to celebrate a significant milestone with its Connect & 40th Annual General Meeting Celebration carded for 28th-30th January 2024 at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain. This year's theme, 'Towards a Sustainable Digital Economy,' reflects the urgent need for dialogue in the Caribbean on Fintech, Artificial Intelligence and the evolution of telcos. The three-day conference will feature an array of thought leaders and business professionals excelling in these areas in the region.

TSTT, as the leading telecommunications provider in Trinidad and Tobago, is not just a founding member of CANTO but has remained engaged with the organisation from its inception to help shape the Caribbean Information, Communications and Technology industry. Over the past 40 years, the telecoms and technology company has worked with the CANTO in the spheres of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), as well as in the development of policies and projects to bridge the digital divide and empower citizens of T&T to benefit from the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Teresa Wankin, Secretary General of CANTO Caribbean, noted, "This year holds special significance for us. We are thrilled to focus on sustainability. It is not just a buzzword, but it is the bedrock of our enduring legacy. We are forging ahead towards a sustainable digital economy." Wankin also recognised that collaboration has been one of the keys to the success of their work in the Caribbean, adding, "as a non-profit association, we've unified operators, organisations, and individuals across the Caribbean and beyond, leading the charge for technological advancements with a global perspective. Embracing partnerships has been pivotal in our journey, and we remain open to fostering collaborations that drive progress and innovation."

The three-day conference and AGM will welcome Senator The Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry for T&T, as the distinguished feature address speaker for the opening ceremony, and attendees will also benefit from leading industry practitioners. Francisco Soto, Huawei’s Chief Expert, Wireless Solutions, will share his two decades of rich experience in new ICT Strategy and insights into 5G Spectrum Organisation, Deployment, and Monetisation in LATAM. Leslie Lee Fook, Director, AI, Analytics and Automation, Incus Services, renowned for his revolutionary strategies in digital transformation, also brings two decades of experience to an exciting discussion on Leveraging AI for Business Growth. He is alongside James Packer, Senior Manager, IT Outsource, who also brings 20 years of expertise in cultivating high-performing teams within Managed Service Providers (MSPs).

Other presenters and speakers include Hon. Marvin Gonzales, Minister of Public Utilities T&T; Charles Bobb-Semple, Deputy CEO, iGovTT; Andrew Watson, Global Government Industry Expert, Enterprise Business Group, Huawei Technologies alongside several panel discussions. TSTT's Tanya Muller will join Giovanni King, CEO of Blue Nap Americas and Dr Anvit Ramlakhan, CEO of Datasur, to discuss Unveiling the Future of Caribbean Data Centres.

Gerard Cooper, General Manager of Operations and Administration, TSTT, recognised the immense strides that CANTO has made over the past four decades. Cooper, who also serves as Treasurer for CANTO, hailed the organisation as the 'leading trade association for the telecommunications and ICT industry in the Western Hemisphere.' He added, "The work of CANTO has been crucial in up levelling the many diverse telecom providers in the region and LATAM and the diverse markets that they service. In just the past few years, CANTO has delivered exciting projects that TSTT has been proud to support including Women and Girls in ICT to close the digital gender divide. CANTO has also offered immeasurable support in the areas of policy and planning while delivering the eContent and eMarketplace initiatives and dozens of other educational and transformative projects."

The event will conclude with CANTO's AGM on the third day with reports from the Chairman, Secretary General and other senior officers, the election of new officers, and the presentation of its 2023/2024 Budget by Gerard Cooper, Treasurer for CANTO. During the three-day event, there are several parallel activities, including a Soca Fit n' Fun Carnival-style fitness burnout, exhibitions, and mix and mingle events for attendees.

CANTO's Secretary General, Teresa Wankin, welcomes attendees to the events as the organisation readies itself for an array of exciting developments in technology in the coming years. She added, "We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each member, partner, and supporter who's been part of our remarkable journey. Your dedication fuels our drive for innovation and progress. As we celebrate this milestone and step into our future, CANTO reaffirms its promise to deliver exceptional service, forging ahead towards a sustainable digital economy.

Interested persons can register online for the event at www.canto.org.
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About CANTO: CANTO is a non-profit association comprising operators, organisations, companies and individuals in the ICT (telecommunications) sector. The Association has a Caribbean focus as it relates to ICT issues for the region with a global perspective.