Editing Economy of Trinidad and Tobago (section)

==Regional financial center==
The country is also a regional financial center, and tourism is a growing sector, although it is not proportionately as important as in many other Caribbean islands. The economy benefits from a growing trade surplus. Economic growth reached 12.6% in 2006 and 5.5% in 2007 as prices for oil, petrochemicals, and LNG remained high, and as foreign direct investment continued to grow to support expanded capacity in the energy sector.

Trinidad and Tobago's infrastructure is adequate by regional standards. A major expansion of the [[Piarco International Airport]] in Trinidad, the country's main airport, was completed in 2001. There are reliable, extensive [[transport|networks]] of paved roads, sewage pipes, and power utilities in the urban centers. Some rural areas still suffer from water shortages. The government is addressing this problem with the construction of additional [[desalinization]] plants. Improvements in transport, telephone service, drainage, and sewerage, especially in rural areas, are among the government's [[budget]] priorities.